In its drive in taking action against unauthorised constructions, the Mumbai civic body has claimed in its affidavit filed in the Bombay Court that Bollywood actor Sonu Sood is a “habitual offender”.
This comes after the civic body accused the actor of carrying out unauthorised construction work in residential building to convert it into a hotel without seeking required permission.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had earlier issued notice to Sonu Sood for allegedly converting residential building in upscale Juhu into hotel.
The affidavit says that Sood wants to “enjoy the commercial proceeds of their unauthorized work and therefore once again started reconstructing the demolished portion in order to make it operational as the hotel albeit illegally and without permission from the License Department.”
The affidavit was filed in response to a petition filed by Sood challenging the notice issued by the civic body in October last year and in December against him.
The BMC has alleged that Sood had made structural changes in six-storey residential building- Shakti Sagar- in a bid to convert it into a hotel.
The affidavit also asserts the 47-year-old seeks to protect an “ex-facie illegal commercial hotel which has been constructed and modified” contrary to the sanctioned building planned by him. This was in violation of MRTP Act and MMC Act, 1888, it claimed.
Initial action was taken by the BMC against the actor in 2018, but he allegedly continued with the unauthorised construction work.
The BMC also stated that Sood “is therefore not only premature but a well thought out strategy by Sood to continue to run his illegal, commercial hospitality business by seeking protection from the court of law,” as Sonu Sood nor his wife Sonali Sood could indicate that they were the owners of the building.
The actor has, however, denied the allegations and claimed that he did not carry out any illegal construction.
The Bombay High Court is slated to hear Sood’s plea against the demolition on Wednesday.
