Habitat shuts down venue, BMC says hotel pulled down unauthorised shed

“We have never been involved in the content performed by any artist, but the recent events made us rethink about how we get blamed and targeted every time, almost like we are a proxy for the performer,” the statement said.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday afternoon carried out an inspection of the four-storied Unicontinental Hotel, which houses the Habitat, where they found a shed at the entryway of the venue that was erected illegally.

The officials said the management of the venue pulled the shed down after the authorities pointed out it was erected illegally.

On Sunday, after Kamra posted a video of his stand-up show, Shiv Sena workers vandalised the studio.

When The Indian Express visited the spot it was found out that the “Habitat” name board as well as the logos were defaced by Sena workers alongside standees displaying details of other performers were also vandalised.

A member of the hotel said that the basement was damaged severely, which is now sealed by the police authorities.

Open mic events like stand-up comedy shows mainly take place in the basement of the building while there is an open air theatre facility available on the terrace of the hotel as well. Members of the hotel told the Indian Express that Kamra’s show was held in the basement last month.

The civic body’s inspection went on for more than five hours and later in the evening authorities said that the hotel management have been told to submit a map along with a written list of altercation or structural changes that have been made in the building.

“We are analysing the building’s original blueprint with the current structure. The development plan rules state that the property owner needs to inform civic authorities whenever there’s an additional structure being erected. The shed was erected without our permission, and we had served them a notice, following which they removed it under our supervision,” said an official.

“Besides being a venue for performing events, there is a restaurant, bar and rooms providing lodging services to people. Therefore, we are checking the existing structure and studying the maps to understand if the hotel structure has been altered to run any kind of secondary business behind the existing set up. They will be filing their response in the next 2-3 days, following which we will submit a report,” the official said.

The official also said that as of Monday evening, the hotel management have submitted one blueprint to the civic authorities and another blueprint is set to be submitted on Tuesday.

In a video that surfaced on social media, civic officials and labourers were seen entering the property with hammers.

The civic officials said that the authorities were also reviewing other parameters like the no-objection certificate on fire safety.