Indian court orders demolition of building built on graft in Mumbai

A court in the India's western city of Maharashtra has ordered demolition of a multi-storied apartment building built illegally, officials said Saturday.

The building known as Adarsh housing society situated at Colaba in Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra, was meant to house India's war heroes and war widows but was grabbed by politicians, military officers and bureaucrats.

"The Bombay High Court yesterday upheld that Adarsh housing society was constructed illegally and directed Union Environment and Forests Ministry to demolish it," a court official said. "The court further ruled that the demolition will be carried out at the expense of Adarsh society and directed the Maharashtra government to initiate criminal proceedings against politicians, ministers and bureaucrats who misused their powers while granting permissions."

The building originally permitted to be a six-story structure was eventually developed into a 31-story high-rise using graft and illegal means to benefit politicians and bureaucrats.

The building seen as an example of "political corruption" in India was unearthed in 2010 and led to the resignation of then Congress party Chief Minister of Maharashtra Ashok Chavan.

In January 2011, demolition of the building was ordered by India's federal environment ministry citing it would set a "precedent" for violating coastal protection laws.

The owners went to court against the ministry's demolition order to safeguard their flats.

Reports said Adarsh was among the major corruption scandals that severely dented Congress party's image in Maharashtra and in rest of India during 2014 elections.

The court, however stayed its order for a period of 12 weeks during which Adarsh Society can file an appeal in India's Supreme Court.

Source: XINHUA