BMC orders probe into illegal beachfront studios

Mumbai: Civic administrator Dr Iqbal Singh Chahal on Tuesday appointed Deputy Municipal Commissioner Harshad Kale to carry out an enquiry into the alleged role of Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray and Congress leader Aslam Shaikh in a scam involving construction of illegal film studios on the Madh Marve beachfront. The move comes allegations hours after BJP leader Kirit Somaiya wrote to Chief Minister Eknatth Shinde, and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis seeking an investigation into what he alleged as a scam worth Rs1,000 crore. “I have written to the CM, and Dy CM demanding a probe into Rs1,000 crore scam, the role of Aslam Shaikh, Aaditya Thackeray and BMC’s environment officer,” Somaiya had tweeted on Tuesday morning.

Somaiya’s letter also sought an enquiry into the role of the State Environment Secretary, the Chairman and Secretary of the Maharashtra Coastal Regulatory Zone Authority (MCZMA) in granting permissions. He further demanded an investigation into the role of an officer of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, who granted clearances to the allegedly illegal studios, valid from October 2022 till October 2024. In his directive, Chahal said the civic authorities had received various complaints regarding illegal studios at Madh, Marve, Erangal, Bhati and Malad beaches. He has also included the role of Assistant Commissioner, P North ward, and the Assistant Engineer, P North in the enquiry. Further, the investigation will also look into whether these studios are located in the NDZ and CRZ, how many studios are functioning, and whether they have legal permissions. Deputy Municipal Commissioner Kale has been asked to submit the enquiry report within four weeks.