The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has demolished the office of the Shiv Sena (UBT) former corporator at Bandra East. The former corporator, Haji Muhammad Khan claimed that the civic body has demolished Shiv Sena shakha office which has been at the location for 20 years. Civic officials said the action followed suggestions by the traffic police and that other “illegal” structures in the vicinity were also demolished. Meanwhile, UBT party workers tried to persuade the BMC officers to not raze the structure, but the demolition was carried out anyway, in the presence of a large police force.

“Before the demolition began, civic officials claimed they had come to demolish the illegal auto-rickshaw stand. But they then demolished the shakha office. How can they demolish a 20-year-old structure without giving notice,” Khan questioned while alleging that the action was taken as he refused to join the Shinde faction. According to a BMC official, the office bearers had been served a notice to voluntarily raze an unauthorised portion of the office. “The office was illegal,” said the official.