Petitioner raised illegal sand dredging: HC tells Thane CP to look into man’s complaint after his house razed
Destruction of man's home a serious concern: HC
3 min read
The court posted the matter for further hearing to August 19 and asked an officer not below the rank of Deputy CP to appear before it on the said date to respond to the concerns raised by the petitioner. (File Photo)Observing that demolishing the house of a petitioner — who had raised issues against illegal sand dredging, destruction of mangroves — was of “‘serious concern”, the Bombay High Court recently directed the Thane Commissioner of Police (CP) to look into the petitioner’s complaint and asked the Deputy CP to remain present before it.
The Court noted that several orders were passed by it over illegal activities taking place with impunity and directives were given to police to give protection to the man and that no FIR has been registered by the police against the persons.
A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Prithviraj K Chavan on August 12 heard a plea filed by Ganesh Neelkanth Patil in 2022, argued through advocate Qurban Husain Kudle.
The petitioner stated that his house was demolished by Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) on August 6 this year without giving him any notice, as he raised issues against illegal activities. Kudle submitted that the demolition was done at the behest of one Aditya Goyal and others and despite Patil calling the control room, no cognisance was taken by the police.
He further submitted that though Patil gave a written complaint to various authorities including Mumbra Police station, no FIR was registered by the police and the authorities were protecting persons undertaking illegal activities and conniving with them by targeting the petitioner.
Public Prosecutor Hiten Venegaonkar submitted that he would apprise the Thane CP about the complaint so that appropriate action can be taken. “In the aforesaid petition, from time to time several orders were passed considering that illegal sand dredging, destruction of mangroves trees, land filling of nalas was going on by persons, with impunity. In fact, considering what was happening, we even granted police protection to the petitioner,” the bench noted.
“What has been pointed to us today is a matter of serious concern. The petitioner who has taken cudgels with persons carrying on illegal activities, by exposing their illegal acts, has been victimised. Hence, we direct the Commissioner of Police, Thane, to personally look into the petitioner’s complaint,” it added.
The court posted the matter for further hearing to August 19 and asked an officer not below the rank of Deputy CP to appear before it on the said date to respond to the concerns raised by the petitioner.
You May Like
Photos
