Khar society wants court to stay demolition

Residents of 172 tenements in Ganeshkripa society, Khar, filed a writ petition in the Bombay high court on Tuesday appealing for a stay order against the ongoing demolitions by Mhada.

Residents of 172 tenements in Ganeshkripa society, Khar, filed a writ petition in the Bombay high court on Tuesday appealing for a stay order against the ongoing demolitions by Mhada.

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The high court, in December, had ordered the eviction of these residents after providing them with transit accommodation and assuring them of rehabilitated accommodation later. But residents want the developer to provide registered agreements stating the same.

Twenty-two houses in the society were demolished last week by the collector’s office.

Forty-eight people, including activists Medha Patkar and Vivek Pandit, were arrested for a day for opposing the demolition.

Residents allege the builder forged their signatures on the consent agreement. The high court had asked Nirmal Nagar police station to lodge an FIR against the builder for the forging signatures.

The residents filed a writ petition in the high court on January 21 as no action was taken on the FIR.

Senior police inspector of Nirmal Nagar police station, Prashant Bagade, said, “We are investigating the case.”

Prakash Azgaonkar, director, Shivalik Ventures (the developer), denied forgery saying the society approached them with signatures.

Meanwhile, a massive rally has been planned on January 26 where slum-dwellers from around Mumbai are expected to come to pledge their support for residents of Ganeshkripa society.