Kapil Sharma row: Mangrove Cell to conduct second survey of Versova bungalows

The Mangrove Cell will conduct the second inspection this week.

Officials from the forest department had carried out the first inspection of a stretch of more than 400 metres of mangroves with the help of global positioning system on September 11 and had found more than 50 bungalows to have destroyed mangroves in the area.

The single-page report submitted to the district collector on September 17 said the destruction of mangroves and dumping of debris had been done after 2005.

A second FIR will be filed against Sharma at the Versova police station for the destruction of mangroves. An FIR was earlier filed by civic officials about a week ago for making illegal alterations in his flat in Oshiwara.

The forest officials’ report also revealed that many other bungalows in the same lane had committed similar violations.

“We have been asked to provide specific details of the bungalows that have dumped debris and destroyed mangroves…so that legal proceedings can be initiated against them as well. We are planning to conduct the inspection on Wednesday and Thursday,” said an official from the Mangrove Cell.

On September 9, Sharma had tagged Prime Pinister Narendra Modi to a post on Twitter alleging corruption against the civic body. In his tweet, he had claimed that a civic official had demanded a bribe of Rs 5 lakh to let him construct his office, which had invited criticism from the leaders of various political parties.

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While Samajwadi Party slapped a defamation notice on Sharma, advocate Abha Singh has filed a criminal petition against him in the Andheri Metropolitan Court.

Despite inquiries from the civic body as well as political leaders, including BJP MLA Ram Kadam, about details of the official who had demanded the bribe, Sharma has remained silent on the issue.