Kapil Sharma Was Served Notice Over Office By Mumbai Civic Body BMC

Mr Sharma, one of the most popular entertainers on Indian television, tweeted that he was being asked for a five lakh bribe by an engineer of the BMC or Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

"We have taken serious note of Kapil Sharma's allegation. We will take action against the person when Kapil Sharma gives his name," said Manohar Pawar, the chief of the BMC's vigilance department, who has written to Mr Sharma.

The civic body said it could only act after a "formal complaint" from Mr Sharma.

It refused to comment on its "stop-work" notice to Mr Sharma on the construction at his office in Andheri in the western suburbs of Mumbai.

In the notice sent in July, the civic body had warned the entertainer against illegal structures being built at his office.

Mr Sharma was asked to produce proof within 24 hours that he had permission for the construction. The civic body warned that the illegal structure would be removed if he didn't respond.

The comedy host had taunted in his tweets this morning tagging PM Modi: "I am paying 15 crore income tax for the last five years and still I have to pay 5 lacks bribe to BMC office for making my office. Is this your achhe din?"

Within three hours, as the post was retweeted wildly and splashed across websites, the BMC and the Chief Minister both reacted.

Mr Fadnavis asked Mr Sharma to reveal details and tweeted that he had "directed BMC to take strictest action. We will not spare the culprit."

The BMC, one of the richest civic bodies in the country, is run by the Shiv Sena and the BJP.