Anushka Mansharamani
The Bombay High Court granted interim protection to Sonu Sood, an actor and extended this order passed by the Civil Court till 13th January.
Sonu Sood is known for his roles in various films and recently came into the spotlight for his philanthropy work in helping migrants during the COVID-19 lockdown.
This protection is given to him from coercive action that can be taken by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) against the alleged illegal structural changes made by him in a residential building in Juhu, Mumbai suburban without permission.
In the first week of January, Sonu Sood approached the Bombay High Court challenging the notification passed against him by the BMC in October 2020 and a subsequent order passed by the civil court dismissing his suit against the action taken by the BMC.
The civil court granted relief to the actor in the case by dismissing the suit and granting him 3 weeks for filing an appeal and also put a stay on the order.
On 11th January, counsel Anik Sakhare, on behalf of the BMC sought time to file a response to the petition filed by Sonu Sood.
Advocate Amogh Singh, representing Sonu Sood sought interim protection and further sought a direction to the civic body to not take any coercive action against him.
Advocate Amogh Singh contended that Sonu Sood has not carried out any unauthorized or illegal construction in the six-storey Shakti Sagar building.
He added that the changes were made legally as the changes were allowed under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act.
On the other hand, Anik Sakhare contended that the petitioner (Sonu Sood) was illegally converting the residential building (six-storey Shakti Sagar) into a hotel.
He added that “A hotel with 24 rooms is being run in the six-storey residential building. The BMC has taken demolition action on the property twice…once in 2018 and then in February 2020 but, still, the illegal construction is on,” and that a police complaint was filed.
On being further questioned by Justice Prithviraj Chavan (the judge) on whether a hotel business is being conducted without a license, Amogh Singh replied that, “Sood is not conducting a hotel business, but is running “a residential hotel in which flats are rented out to people.”
The petition filed by Sonu Sood thereby seeks the court to quash the notice issued by the BMC and grant him interim relief.