Nagpur: Though bulldozers at the riot epicentres retreated late Monday after Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court ordered a temporary stay on demolitions, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) continued to collate evidence of irregularities in properties linked to 51 riots accused, based on a list handed over to the civic body by police.
A preliminary probe revealed discrepancies with many properties registered under different names. “This created legal hurdles in establishing an ownership link to the accused. Our focus is to verify whether properties occupied by riot accused are legally owned and constructed. To avoid legal missteps, we are cross-checking municipal records, scanning property details, and exercising caution before initiating action,” said an NMC official.
Despite the court stay, the civic body was directed to press ahead with its probe, particularly against unauthorised constructions of eight key accused. This comes a day after the civic body’s enforcement department razed a two-storied building in Sanjay Bagh Colony linked to accused Faheem Khan. Though the property was registered in his mother’s name, it was found to be constructed without mandatory permissions from NMC’s town planning department in violation of Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966.
Simultaneously, NMC officials demolished illegal extensions at the home of Abdul Hafiz Sheikh Lal in Johripura. The crackdown also extended to commercial establishments, with NMC assisting police in sealing two shops in Mominpura allegedly used by rioters linked to Minority Democratic Party. A senior NMC official explained that such action is routine but is being viewed differently this time due to the long list of accused.
Also, NMC is now probing whether any riot accused benefited from the state govt’s ‘patta watap’ scheme, which grants ownership rights to slum dwellers. “We are verifying whether records of properties linked to the accused shared by city police are legitimate,” the official said.
Police have instructed NMC to keep the accused list confidential to prevent political interference. Most identified properties are located in Central Nagpur and North Nagpur, areas where violence erupted during the riots.
On Sunday, the civic body’s Ashi Nagar zone served a notice to Aziza Begum Shaikh Salim, the owner of Plot No. 78, House No. 1559/F/78 in Yadav Nagar. The inspection revealed illegal extensions on both ground and first floors, each measuring 30 square metre. Sources revealed Aziza’s property came under the scanner after police flagged it for potential links to a relative allegedly involved in the riots. NMC was preparing to demolish the property, but the HC stay order halted the move.
For now, NMC has temporarily put its bulldozer action on hold, awaiting the high court’s final verdict. However, the civic body is intensifying its probe by verifying ownership patterns, cross-referencing municipal records, and flagging unauthorised constructions. Officials stated ongoing scrutiny is likely to reveal more irregularities, with bulldozer action hinging on the court’s decision. |
