Uttam Nagar clash: portions of accused’s home razed day after tribunal junks appeal for stay
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Thursday demolished portions of a house linked to one of the accused in the death of 26-year-old Tarun Bhutolia, who was killed in a clash between his family and neighbours amid Holi celebrations in Uttam Nagar’s JJ colony.
The demolition came a day after the Appellate Tribunal of MCD dismissed an appeal for stay filed by the daughter of one of the accused, who claims ownership of the property, noting the absence of ownership documents and proof that the construction adhered to building by-laws. The family had moved the tribunal on April 28, following an April 13 hearing in the Delhi High Court, which had granted a 10-day stay on demolition and directed the petitioner to seek relief from the tribunal within two weeks.
As per tribunal records, the MCD issued a show-cause notice on March 11, which it said was pasted on the structure after it could not be served via speed post. A demolition order was issued on March 30 for properties C-172 and C-173 in JJ Colony, Hastsal, Uttam Nagar, citing unauthorised construction from the ground to the fourth floor, along with projections onto municipal land. The civic body cited that the two plots had been amalgamated and the ground floor violated standard building norms. The appellant’s counsel, however, contended that only the sealing order dated March 14 was received and their reply dated April 2 was not considered. “The respondent took a pre-planned unilateral action by sealing the property,” the counsel said.
Earlier on March 8, the MCD had demolished portions of another property of the accused, saying “those portions projected on the municipal drains and roads” and that “no notice was required in case of encroachment”.
Heavy police presence
Officials said due process had been followed and the demolition drive in the area was carried out on Thursday amid heavy policy deployment.
While the civic body declined to issue an official statement, a senior MCD official said, “We cannot demolish the whole building because there are other structures close by. But we will leave it in ‘unusable’ condition.”
It remains unclear how much of the structure was demolished.
