Fact Check: Will Part Of Amitabh Bachchan’s Bungalow ‘Prateeksha’ Be Demolished?

Mumbai: Amitabh Bachchan and seven others, including Rajkumar Hirani, had been served notice by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for ‘illegal construction’ a few years ago.

There was no follow-up on the matter, but the issue has now been brought up again. Congress councillor advocate Tulip Brian Miranda has accused BMC of not taking action against Bachchan’s property ‘Prateeksha’, his first bungalow in Mumbai. It may be mentioned that the Bachchans have another bungalow in Mumbai, ‘Jalsa’.

BMC is now following up on its 2017 notice and will soon be demolishing a part of Prateeksha, ANI reported.

“BMC gave notice to Amitabh Bachchan in 2017 under road-widening policy but no action was taken. When the notice was issued, why was that land not taken by BMC? No appeal is required for road-widening project after notice is served,” the councillor was quoted as saying by the news agency.

Bachchan and seven others were issued notice under Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices as they had made changes to the approved building map.

“Had it belonged to a common person, the BMC would have taken it immediately. Then why was the land not taken under Section 299 of the Municipal Act notice that says you don’t have to wait for a second notice of appeal?” the councillor argued.

The civic body has reportedly instructed city survey officials to demarcate the exact part of the bungalow required for the purpose of widening of Sant Dnyaneshwar Marg, which connects Chandan Cinema area to Link Roar towards Iskcon temple.

“This is a very necessary project because there are two schools, a hospital, an ISKCON temple and monuments in Mumbai are around. The road winding project has been suddenly stopped just because of Amitabh Bachchan’s bungalow,” the councillor added.

In 2020 September, the civic body demolished part of actor Kangana Ranaut’s office against which the Bombay high court later termed as ‘wrongful’.