The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has filed a police complaint against Bollywood actor Sonu Sood for allegedly converting a six-storey residential building in Juhu into a hotel without the required permissions.
The civic body asked the Juhu police to take cognisance of the offence under the Maharashtra Region and Town Planning (MRTP) Act for converting the Shakti Sagar building on Juhu’s AB Nair Road into a hotel.
“It has been found that Sonu Sood has instituted/ commenced/ undertaken/ carried out development or changed the user of land. Unauthorised addition/alterations beyond the approved plan and unauthorised change of user from residential to residential hotel building without taking technical sanction from competent authority,” the complaint, dated January 4, read.
It further stated that Sood was continuing to carry out the “unauthorised development” even after a notice was served on him.
However, Sood has denied the allegations. Reports said that Sood was awaiting clearance from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCMZA) after getting the approval for change of user.
“I have taken approval for change of user from the BMC. It was subject to the approval of the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority. This permission hasn’t come due to COVID-19. There are no irregularities. I always abide by the law,” the actor said in a statement.
“This hotel was used to house COVID-19 warriors during the pandemic. If permissions don’t come, I will restore it back to a residential structure. I am appealing against the BMC’s complaint in the Bombay HC.”
Sood had reportedly moved the city civil court against the notice sent by the BMC in October last year, but didn’t receive any interim relief.
Police have stated that the preliminary investigation is under way and an IFR would be registered thereafter based on the compliant against the actor.
