In a major relief for Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, the Bombay High Court on Friday has quashed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) demolition notice and subsequent action to undertake partial demolition at her Bandra bungalow in September and ordered suitable compensation to her.
The court said that the BMC proceeded on "wrongful grounds" in the case that was against the citizens' rights, malice in law, and reactionary in nature.
A Division Bench comprising Justices SJ Kathawalla and RI Chagla said that Ranaut can take steps to get regularised her property and make it habitable. The court directed that if Ranaut makes an application for getting her building plans approved, it would be decided within 4 weeks.
Reserving its order on the quantum of compensation payable to the actress, the court-appointed a valuer to decide on the compensation amount.
"We make it clear that we do not approve the loose statements made by Kangana Ranaut. She should have exercised restraint but the subject matter is the demolition, not her tweet," said the Bombay High Court while delivering its verdict in the row between BMC and Kangana Ranaut.
It has also been observed by the court, "Irresponsible statements however irresponsible by an individual is best ignored. There cannot be muscle power used by the state in a civil society."
The High Court announced its verdict after analyzing the Saamana articles and news channel clips of ShivSena leader Sanjay Raut and noted that the evidence proves the credibility of the charges that the Queen actress was threatened.
"The action by BMC was with malice. The manner in which the demolition was carried out meant that it was a sinister attempt to silence Kangana," the division bench said after careful deliberation of nearly two months.
Also Read: Happy Vacay: Sonakshi Sinha bids goodbye to Maldives but her heart stayed back
Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar said that she would comment after consulting the BMC Legal Department but declined to say whether it would challenge the High Court ruling in the Supreme Court.
The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party leaders like Kirit Somaiya and Ram Kadam welcomed the court verdict and slammed the BMC, Municipal Commissioner IS Chahal, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, and Maha Vikas Aghadi government, saying it was a big blow to them and demanded the Mayor's resignation.
A BMC team had undertaken partial demolition at Ranaut's bungalow on September 9, which sparked off massive political uproar after which she moved the Bombay HC to challenge the civic body's move, terming it a vendetta.
Kangana then approached the Bombay High Court through her lawyer Rizwan Siddiquee and got a stay order on the demolition drive. Notably, Kangana demanded Rs 2 crore compensation from BMC for the illegal demolition of her bungalow.