Mumbai:
The Bombay High Court on Thursday issued notices to state Industries Minister Narayan Rane and his wife Neelam on a PIL alleging misuse of a plot of land in suburban Andheri, allotted by the state government.
Rane, the Chief Minister then, had used his powers to allot the plot to the Sindhudurg Shikshan Prasarak Mandal (SSPM), a Sindhudurg-based trust, which was then headed by his wife Neelam Rane, said the PIL.
The land, in suburban Andheri, was allotted for community centre, but the user was changed later and it was rented out for commercial purpose, it said.
The PIL demands demolition of the 'Jail Restaurant and Lounge' which stands there.
A division bench of Justices P B Majumdar and Amjed Sayed today also asked the state government to file a reply by March 8.
The PIL further alleged that to facilitate the lease agreement, rules were bent and the SSPM was not charged the rent at the market rate.
Ashok Kalgutkar, the petitioner, said that Neelam Rane got permission to use the premises for commercial purpose in just nine days after applying.