Actor Sonu Sood is the latest Bollywood celebrity to get into tussle with BMC for allegedly converting a residential building into a hotel. BMC filed a police complaint against the actor and mentioned he allegedly converted the six- storey Shakti Sagar residential building into a hotel without proper necessary permissions from the officials. However, the actor has denied the allegations made.
According to the reports made by Times of India, the BMC mentioned in its complaint that the actor continued with the ‘unauthorised development even after the notice was sent to him.’ Sonu Sood denied the allegations and said that he has always had the permission and was just waiting for the clearance from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA). “I have taken approval for change of use from the BMC. It was subject to the approval of the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority. This permission hasn’t come due to COVID-19. There are no irregularities. I always abide by the law. This hotel was used to house COVID-19 warriors during the pandemic. If permissions don’t come, I will restore it back to a residential structure. I am appealing against the BMC’s complaint in the Bombay HC, ” he stated.
The actor moved the case to the city civil court in October last year, against the BMC notice. However, he was not given any interim relief by the court.
The complaint read, “It has been found that Sonu Sood has instituted/ commenced/ undertaken/ carried out development or changed the user of land. Unauthorised addition/ alternations beyond the approved plan and unauthorised change of user from residential to residential hotel building without taking technical sanction from the competent authority.”
The police are currently conducting a preliminary investigation and an FIR is not yet filed.
