Thane: Maharashtra forest officials say they have been stopped by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislator Jitendra Ahwad from clearing illegal huts in Thane, where a building collapsed last week killing 74 people and injuring more than 60.
Mr Ahwad has not denied the charge, and says he did the right thing.
"My constituency has slums and poor people. If officials carry out demolitions, I will stop them again and again," he said.
"Seventy per cent of constructions in Thane are illegal. One can't just bring them down. The government should demolish only when it starts to build new homes," Mr Ahwad said.
When the seven-storey illegal building collapsed last week, the legislator from Mumbra had claimed that he has been campaigning against illegal structures in Thane.
The building collapse has brought to focus the rampant misuse of land in Thane and nexus between politicians and real estate developers.
Police say they have proof that the builders of the illegal structure had bribed NCP corporator Hira Patil and a senior police officer to ensure they looked away as the building came up in just six weeks, with sub-standard material.
Among those arrested for the Thane tragedy are top civic officials and the two builders, Jamil Qureshi and Salim Sheikh. The charges against them include culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy, abuse of official position by a public servant and common intent.
Mr Ahwad has not denied the charge, and says he did the right thing.
"My constituency has slums and poor people. If officials carry out demolitions, I will stop them again and again," he said.
When the seven-storey illegal building collapsed last week, the legislator from Mumbra had claimed that he has been campaigning against illegal structures in Thane.
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Police say they have proof that the builders of the illegal structure had bribed NCP corporator Hira Patil and a senior police officer to ensure they looked away as the building came up in just six weeks, with sub-standard material.
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