BMC Issues Show-Cause Notice to Navneet, Ravi Rana; Asks for Reply Within 7 Days

The BMC'S notice was in response to alleged violations found in the private residence of the Ranas in Mumbai.

Navneet Rana and her husband Ravi Rana.

(Photo: PTI)

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday, 10 May, issued a show-cause notice to Amravati MP Navneet Rana and her husband MLA Ravi Rana under Section 351(1A) of the Municipal Corporation Act and asked them to file their reply within seven days.

"If they fail to describe the sufficient cause, BMC will initiate (action) against the mentioned construction without their permission and also be prosecuted under section 475A of the said Act," the BMC said, as per news agency ANI.

The notice was in response to alleged violations found on the 8th floor of the Lavie building in Mumbai's Khar West – which is the private residence of the Ranas.

The BMC said that the work undertaken by the couple in their residence was in contravention to the provisions of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act.

Background

The couple was granted bail on Wednesday, 4 May, in connection with the case of threatening to recite Hanuman Chalisa with their supporters outside 'Matoshree', the private residence of Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray. They were released from prison on 5 May.

Bail was granted upon furnishing a bail bond of Rs 50,000 each. The couple had also been ordered not to engage with the media over the matter or commit "similar offences" in the future, as per Bar & Bench.

The Ranas had been arrested on 23 April and were booked under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) and 34 (criminal act done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code after they had announced their plan to chant Hanuman Chalisa outside Matoshree. However, the couple later claimed that they had called off their plans.

Navneet was admitted to Mumbai's Lilavati hospital right after she and her husband Ravi were released from Byculla prison on 5 May. Navneet had gone to the hospital for a medical check-up and was later admitted to the hospital.

(With inputs from ANI and Bar & Bench.)