Explained: Narayan Rane’s Juhu bungalow row, the latest in his long tussle with Shiv Sena

What is the controversy over Narayan Rane’s bungalow in Juhu, Mumbai?

Rane, former Maharashtra chief minister and Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, was issued a notice by the BMC in response to a complaint about illegal construction in his eight-story bungalow ‘Adhish’ on Juhu Tara Road. The Mumbai civic body issued the notice to Rane last Thursday under Section 488 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act (MMC), 1888, informing him that a team of BMC officials would visit his bungalow to verify the complaint.

The BMC’s action sparked a round of political squabbling between Rane and the Thackerays, with the Union Minister raising questions about illegalities in Uddhav’s new bungalow ‘Matoshree-2’ in Bandra (E).

Police personnel stand guard as BMC officials inspect the bungalow of Narayan Rane, in Mumbai, Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. (PTI Photo)

Mumbai-based Right to Information (RTI) activist Santosh Daundkar, who has been complaining about alleged large-scale irregularities in Rane’s bungalow since 2017, had on Thursday filed a reminder complaint, claiming the BMC did not take any action over the bungalow in five years. Following this complaint, the Shiv Sena-ruled BMC issued a notice to Rane for inspection of the bungalow on the same day.

According to sources, the BMC has found construction in the refuge area of the bungalow and the corporation is likely to issue another notice under section 53 of Maharashtra Regional & Town Planning (MRTP), 1966. Under this, Rane will be given a month’s time to either regularise the construction or demolish it.
The BMC has also filed a caveat in City Civil Court so that in case Rane seeks legal stay against the action, the order will not be passed before hearing the BMC.

What were the violations mentioned in the complaint ?

Daundkar, in his complaint on June 23, 2017, had alleged seven violations in Rane’s bungalow. These included illegally getting CRZ clearance to build the bungalow abutting the Juhu Chowpatty; construction of a basement in CRZ-II illegally; not keeping the compulsory open space on the plot; violation of Floor Space Index (FSI); and further unauthorised construction.

Daundkar had also filed a complaint before Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) about CRZ violations, alleging that Rane had clearance for a four-storey bungalow but raised it up to eight floors.
Construction of the bungalow, spread over 2,000 square meters, was completed in 2012 and in 2013, the BMC issued an Occupation Certificate (OC).

What explains the bad blood between Narayan Rane and Shiv Sena?

Rane, 69, began his political career as “shakha pramukh” in the Shiv Sena, and rose the ranks to become the CM of Maharashtra for eight months in the first Sena-BJP government in 1999, replacing the Sena’s Manohar Joshi as CM.

In 2003, when the Sena, at a convention in Mahabaleshwar, named Uddhav as party’s “executive president”, Rane had opposed the move He then went on to challenge Uddhav’s leadership. As a result, in 2005, Rane was expelled from the party by then Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray for “anti-party activities” after he alleged the party sold posts and tickets in the elections.

Soon after quitting the Sena, Rane joined the Congress with dozens of MLAs. However, Rane’s attempt to split the Sena by taking around 40 legislators with him was foiled by the Sena.

In 2017, Rane, who claimed he was given the promise of CM post, quit the Congress stating there was no scope in the party, and formed the Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksh.

Later, he declared support to the BJP and got elected to the Rajya Sabha. He merged his party with the BJP in 2019.

Rane has been known for making acerbic attacks at the Sena, especially the Thackeray family. While Rane did not criticise Sena patriarch Balasaheb Thackeray, he never minced words while criticising and attacking Uddhav over the years. He has also taken digs at Uddhav’s wife Rashmi, and son Aaditya.

Balasaheb Thackeray greets Narayan Rane as Uddhav looks on, in 1997. (Express Archives)

Recent controversies between Narayan Rane and Shiv Sena

In August last year, soon after his induction into the Union cabinet, Rane said he would slap Uddhav for forgetting the year of Independence. Rane’s statement led to protests by the Sena, which filed at least three cases against him. Subsequently, Rane was arrested for his controversial remarks. He was released later.

During his visit to the flood-affected Konkan region last year, Rane criticised Uddhav, saying he does not give a damn about the CM, and blamed Uddhav’s bad luck for the disasters in the state.

Separately, Rane’s son Nitesh, a BJP MLA from Kankavali in Sindhudurg district, was arrested earlier this month in an attempt to murder case of a Sena functionary Santosh Parab. Nitesh surrendered before the court on February 2, after which the Kankavli police in Sindhudurg district sought his custody. The court then granted the police his custody for two days, after which he was sent to judicial custody for 14 days, but was granted bail on February 9.

Coming to the controversy around the bungalow, after the BMC’s notice, Rane raised questions on illegalities in Uddhav’s residence Matoshree-2.

He has also raked up the deaths of actor Sushant Singh Rajput and Disha Salian, Singh’s former manager, claiming four members of the Thackeray family would soon receive notices from the Enforcement Directorate. “Sushant Singh Rajput and Disha Salian did not die by suicide, but were killed. Salian was killed after the gangrape. Both the cases will be re-investigated. Not just this, I have learnt that the ED’s notice is ready for four persons in Matoshree,” Rane said in a tweet.

How effective is Narayan Rane in pinning down Shiv Sena?

Rane’s attacks on Sena and the Thackeray family has both advantages and disadvantages for the BJP. Sources said it would help the BJP counter the Sena in the BMC polls this year, in the pockets having a sizeable population from the Konkan region.

Rane has been made the lynchpin of the BJP’s attempt to dethrone the Sena from the BMC, which it has controlling since the 70s barring a small period in the 90s. The elections to the BMC and other municipal corporations are likely to be held in the next few months.

Sources in Sena said Rane targetting and using abusive language against the Thackerays ahead of the polls would benefit the Sena and hurt the BJP. “Whenever the Thackerays have been targeted by the political opponents in the past, the shiv sainiks have become more aggressive and shown them their place. With civic elections just a few months away, the Thackerays being targeted by Rane and BJP will work in favour of Sena and hurt the BJP,” said a senior Sena leader.
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