BJP MLA Narendra Mehta's club: Bombay High Court orders an FIR

The Bombay High Court has ordered the police to register an FIR against BJP legislator Narendra Mehta's Seven Eleven Club, after a petition filed by a local activist claimed that the MLA misused his political power to illegally raise the sprawling clubhouse in Bhayandar East.

The criminal petition was filed in July by Dhiraj Parab, and accuses MLA Mehta and some Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) officials of allowing the clubhouse to be constructed in a regulatory zone.

A division bench of justices Ranjit More and Nitin Jamdar directed for the case to be filed.

The MLA seemed nonchalant while speaking about the development to DNA. "I am happy that someone filed a petition against me in court. The FIR is only for investigation and I am sure the court will give a clear title to my club, which is legally constructed. The MBMC commissioner has also given a clean chit to the club. We have all the documents and there is nothing illegal about the construction," Mehta said.

Parab's petition claims the land the club is built on falls under a non-development (ND) zone and only a single-storey gym was permissible here, but the MLA approached MBMC to build a "five-star hotel". The MBMC, in violation of the development control rules, allowed its construction, it claims.

"MLA Mehta misused his political power to built this five-star club," the petition claims. "7-11 Club also didn't have any permission to construct a basement, but it was constructed and a pub, bar, theatre and a card room is run inside it."

Among the unauthorised works allegedly done for building the club, the petition cites "illegal cutting of mangroves, carrying out illegal work and building obstacles to stop the flow of water".

Parab claims the offences committed by civic body MBMC's officers "were brought on record". His plea states the marshland falls under coastal regulatory zone (CRZ III) and is covered with dense mangroves which are affected by high tide (200 metres).

"The club destroyed mangroves situated in the club area, the marshland was removed, the land was illegally filled with tar and construction sand, and furthermore, posts and enclosures were constructed, and the watercourse was obstructed to destroy the marshland," the petition states.

It also claims that by municipal corporation officials gave additional FSI to further the construction, on misrepresented grounds that there was a highway connecting to the hotel.

"However, this is mere misrepresentation disclosing the connivance of the officers with MLA Mehta in granting him further FSI," the petition states.