On the suggestion of the Bombay High Court, the Powai police filed a formal complaint (FIR) on October 5th against representatives of BMC’s S ward, Hiranandani Group (HGP Community Pvt Ltd), and four associates for carrying out unlawful demolitions in Jai Bhim Nagar. The accused are charged with criminal conspiracy, providing false information, and framing an erroneous document to cause harm, among other offences.
Of the 600–650 families that were in Jai Bhim Nagar before the demolition, just about 100–150 families are left. Those who have remained, enduring severe downpours over the past few months, have reported being harassed and watched by both the police and private bouncers.
Residents claimed that the Hiranandani Group promised to relocate them to Mahatma Phule Nagar, another colony close to Vikhroli, around six months before the demolition. Because the community is isolated and many kilometres from where the majority of residents work as housekeepers or service providers, there was a lot of opposition to this.
Furthermore, the area is undeveloped and is thought to be dangerous, particularly for women. One of the residents, Pushpatai, told Citizen Matters, “There are bad men there, and we have young girls in our families.”
Residents of Jai Bhim Nagar desire housing close to their now-demolished community. Residents have legal and valid documents, including Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, electricity bills, bank passbooks, domiciled certificates, and other authenticated documents, to prove that they have lived in the area for roughly 30 years, according to the petition that community members filed in the High Court.
Residents obtained the right to live in the settlement on private property more than 30 years ago, according to the petition. Later, the buildings constructed with the BMC’s approval were made permanent.
Residents’ rights to dwelling in Jai Bhim Nagar or an adjacent Powai suburb are less clear, even if they can challenge the unlawful demolition by filing a false complaint with the SHRC.
Source: Citizen Matters
