Nagpur: Municipal authorities in Nagpur, Mumbai, demolished the unauthorised two-storey house of Fahim Khan, the prime accused in the communal violence that erupted in the city recently, on Monday. The demolition was carried out under heavy security.
Khan, a leader of the Minority Democratic Party (MDP), has been booked for sedition and is among over 100 people arrested for the violence in Nagpur, Maharashtra, on March 17 that led to one death and injuries to 33 police personnel, including DCP rank officers.
A few days ago, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation issued a notice to Khan, citing various lapses and the absence of building plan approval for his house in Sanjay Bagh Colony, Yashodhara Nagar, which is registered in his wife’s name. Khan is currently in jail.
Violence erupted in Nagpur after Khan allegedly circulated fake videos of a ‘chadar’ with religious inscriptions being burnt during a VHP-Bajrang Dal-led protest demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (formerly Aurangabad). CCTV footage also showed Khan leading and instigating a mob.
The Hindu confirmed that around 10:30 am on Monday, three JCB machines from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation began demolishing the house in Sanjay Bagh Colony.
Devendra Fadnavis, chief minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis had told The Hindu on Saturday that: “The cost of properties damaged during the violence will be recovered from rioters and the failure to pay up would lead to the seizure and selling of their properties to recover losses.”
“My government will not rest until those responsible for attacking the police are found and dealt with sternly,” he had said.
Fadnavis, who also heads the home department, stated that those spreading inflammatory content would be charged as co-accused of inciting violence. In reply to a question, he had said that it is still too early to confirm any Bangladeshi or other foreign link to the violence.
The CM had mentioned a Malegaon link though. Without naming Khan, Fadnavis had said: “The Malegaon connection can be seen as one of the accused belongs to a political party from Malegaon.”
