Court orders police to register FIR against Kapil Sharma for destroying mangroves
Kapil Sharma (inset: backside of his bungalow)
Following a court order, an FIR was registered on Wednesday against comedian Kapil Sharma under Environment Protection Act for allegedly destroying mangroves while constructing his bungalow in Andheri.
The stand-up comic was booked under relevant sections of the Environment Protection Act, the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, and also IPC Section 187 (omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give assistance).
Earlier today, the Magistrate Court in Andheri heard a complaint filed by social activist Santosh Daundkar and ordered police to book Sharma and others involved.
“Judge A A Panchbhai was convinced by our argument about illegal construction (allegedly by Sharma) in a mangrove buffer zone. It’s a known fact that the accused is in possession of a small bungalow in Andheri (West).
“At this place he started doing illegal construction by adding additional floors that violates the law,” said advocate Abha Singh, who appeared in the court on behalf of the complainant.
“Despite carrying out illegal construction as well as change of use of a land falling in CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone) area, Sharma went ahead and tweeted about Rs 5 lakh bribe demanded from him. But he never disclosed the name of the bribe seeker, which is an added criminality on part of the accused (hence police have added IPC Section 187),” she said.
Back in September, the 35-year-old stirred controversy by alleging that he had been asked to pay a bribe of Rs 5 lakh by a BMC officer for granting certain permissions pertaining to the construction of his Versova property.
He even tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his tweet, sent on September 9.
“I am paying Rs 15 cr income tax from last 5 year n still i have to pay Rs 5 lakhs bribe to BMC office for making my office @narendramodi (sic),” Kapil tweeted.
Singh also told the court that Sharma has refrained from disclosing the name of the corrupt official despite being asked to do so by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis personally.
