Kapil Sharma has destroyed 'mangroves' around his Andheri house, the complainant alleges
A police complaint or FIR has been filed against actor and stand-up comedian Kapil Sharma for alleged illegal construction near his home in Mumbai's suburb Andheri which have impacted mangroves in the area. Kapil Sharma, 35, has been booked under the Environment Protection Act and the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, according to the police.
A court in Andheri had heard a complaint by social activist Santosh Daundkar earlier today and ordered the FIR against the actor and others involved in the case.
"Judge AA Panchbhai was convinced by our argument about illegal construction (allegedly by Sharma) in a mangrove buffer zone. It is a known fact that the accused is in possession of a small bungalow in Andheri (West). At this place he started doing illegal construction by adding additional floors that violates the law," said advocate Abha Singh, who appeared on behalf of complainant Santosh Daundkar.
"Despite refrained from carrying out illegal construction as well as change of use of a land falling in CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone) area, Sharma went ahead and tweeted about Rs 5 lakh bribe demanded from him. But he never disclosed the name of the bribe seeker, which is an added criminality on part of the accused (hence police have added IPC Section 187)," she said.
In September, Kapil Sharma had alleged that he was asked to pay Rs 5 lakh as bribe by an official of the civic body Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation or BMC to go ahead with the construction at his house in Andheri's Versova.
In a tweet sent out on September 9, Kapil Sharma had tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said, "I am paying Rs 15 cr income tax from last 5 year n still i have to pay Rs 5 lakhs bribe to BMC office for making my office @narendramodi (sic)."
Even though Kapil Sharma was asked to make public the bribe seeker's name by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the actor has so far not done so, advocate Abha Singh said.