Illegal constructions at AIMIM corporator’s properties demolished in Maharashtra
The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation demolished alleged illegal constructions linked to AIMIM corporator Matin Patel, who is accused of harbouring Nashik TCS case accused Nida Khan. The action followed a civic notice and comes amid an ongoing police probe into multiple harassment cases
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation on Wednesday demolished alleged illegal constructions at the residence and other properties of AIMIM corporator Matin Patel, who was booked for allegedly harbouring Nashik TCS case accused Nida Khan, officials said.
Khan was arrested in central Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on May 7, with police claiming that All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Patel had provided her shelter.
On May 9, the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation issued a notice to Patel over alleged illegal constructions in the city’s Naregaon area, seeking a clarification from him within 72 hours. The notice stated that if no reply was received from Patel, the corporation would have the authority to decide the fate of the property.
Patel later moved the court seeking a stay on the matter, but it was not granted.
On Wednesday morning, civic body personnel demolished illegal constructions at Patel’s house, office and some shops under police security, Mayor Sameer Rajurkar told PTI.
Earlier, on Tuesday night, former AIMIM MP Imtiaz Jaleel met Patel’s family in Naregaon and criticised the civic body’s “haste”.
“We sought a week from the court, but the municipal corporation is in a hurry to demolish the constructions. It is a crucial time for all of us, but after demolition, we will build a house for Matin and his family that the country will see,” Jaleel said while addressing supporters after the meeting.
Mayor Rajurkar on Monday said the process of cancelling Patel’s corporatorship would be initiated after documents related to his property were verified.
“If Patel has indulged in illegalities, his membership in the civic body should be cancelled. Action has been initiated under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, which clearly states that no information should be hidden while filing nomination forms for civic polls,” he had said.
Nida Khan is accused in a case related to the alleged religious conversion and sexual harassment of some women colleagues at a Nashik unit of Tata Consultancy Services.
Patel has been named as an accused in the case for allegedly providing refuge to Khan.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Nashik police is probing nine cases of molestation and harassment at the IT major’s Nashik unit.
TCS has clarified that it has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion of any form for a long time, and the employees allegedly involved in sexual harassment at the Nashik office have been suspended.
