Want compensation or land, police tell HC

Alternatively, the corporation has urged the court to direct the six plots in Worli to be reverted to the MSPHWC or make the societies in Worli “adequately compensate” the MSPHWC.

The affidavit was filed in reply to a PIL filed by activist Ketan Tirodkar alleging that six plots of land in Worli, reserved for policemen, were fraudulently allotted to housing societies of legislators and bureaucrats. In return they were promised land in Andheri but it was never given to them, the PIL claimed.

According to Patnaik’s affidavit, the state home department had, in 1974, allotted the six plots to the MSPHWC. These were among the 17 places across the state that were earmarked for police housing. In 1988, the state government, however, unilaterally resumed the six plots of land and private societies Purnima, Sukhada and Shubhada were constructed on the land in Worli. “Whereas Purnima society houses mostly retired IPS officers, ‘Shubhada’ and ‘Sukhada’ have majority members belonging to the political class,” the affidavit stated. As compensation, the state government made available 48,560 sq m of land in Andheri to the corporation. “Not an inch of the above land measuring 48,560 sq m at Ambivali, Andheri, Mumbai has been physically handed over to the Respondent no. 2 (MSPHWC),” Patnaik stated.

“More than 37,054.23 sq m of land is occupied by private parties like ‘Kokilaben Dhirubai Ambani Hospital’, ‘Patliputra CHS,’ ‘Kamdhenu Shopping Mall’. While some plots are fenced and construction activities are being carried out by the ‘Akruti Builders’, a private builder,” said Patnaik.

The court asked Tirodkar to join the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Patliputra housing society and the Kamdhenu Shopping Mall as parties to the PIL.