Cheques worth Rs 3.60 lakh submitted towards costs imposed for illegal hoardings
Mumbai : Several politicians in the city were made to pay penalties on Friday after being pulled up by the High Court for putting up illegal hoardings across the city.
Amidst this, a list of nearly 46 politicians from various political parties was produced in the court which had names of high-profile politicians like Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Raj Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav etc.
The court has adjourned the next hearing till March 9 and has put forth two options in front of the parties of either paying off the penalty of Rs 25,000 per head or the court may issue a ‘contempt of court’ notice.
The court on February 18 had ordered two BJP MLAs along with one MNS leader to pay the penalty for displaying illegal hoardings after issuing contempt notices to the politicians.
As part of this exercise, on Friday, while some politicians handed over cheques to the CM’s relief fund, some gave cheques in name of NAAM Foundation which works for the welfare of families of farmers who commit suicide.
Pursuant to court’s orders, BJP’s Mumbai president Ashish Shelar has given a cheque of Rs 1.50 lakh to the CM’s Relief Fund and another cheque of Rs 25,000 in the name of Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai. Shelar has also donated an amount of Rs 20,000 to the Mumbai Police Commissioner.
In his affidavit, Shelar has claimed that the illegal hoardings and banners were put up without his knowledge. Following the contempt notice from the court, Shelar informed that he has sent show cause notices to his party workers and have also warned his workers of suspension from the party if the same is repeated.
Another BJP MLA from Vile Parle, Parag Alavani handed over a cheque of Rs 40,000 to the NAAM Foundation. Similarly, MNS leader Sachin Gunjal gave a cheque of Rs 25,000 to NAAM.
During the hearing, advocate Anil Sakhre representing the BMC also informed the court that an FIR has been lodged against some workers of the Republican Party for creating a ruckus after their illegal hoardings were removed from Chembur.
Responding to Sakhre, Justice Abhay Oka asked for the names of the workers so that the court can send contempt notices to them.
Similarly, advocate Uday Warunjikar representing the petitioner, informed that there were about 20 huge posters of Shiv Sena leader from Worli which are been put up on the pillars of the Metro line near the NM Joshi Marg.
Though the Sena advocate tried to convince Justice Oka by saying that the posters would straight away be removed, he was asked to provide names of the Sena leaders so that the court can send across contempt notices.
Interestingly, the Sena advocate cited the circular put up in Sena mouthpiece Saamna, asking its workers not to put up illegal hoardings but still the court asked him to name the leaders who have put up posters near NM Joshi marg.
However, court has kept Gunjal’s cheque on hold as he has not provided the cost for removing the hoarding.
“Our party has directed workers to stop putting up illegal hoardings, and if still people are putting then they will have to face the action,” said Manisha Kayande, spokeperson for Shiv Sena.
Congress Mumbai president Sanjay Nirupam said, “We haven’t received any order yet but once we get one, we will surely abide by the courts orders.”
