MLA’s kin among 8 booked for defying rules

Mumbai: The Mira Road police on Wednesday registered a FIR under the relevant sections of the Environment Protection Act, against eight people, including the close kin and associates of BJP legislator Narendra Mehta. However, no arrests have been made so far. The action followed after revenue official Laxman Pawar registered a complaint at the Mira Road police station in context to destruction of mangroves and reclamation of wetlands in the Kanakia area of Mira Road.

Apart from the owner and driver of the vehicles used in the crime, the accused includes the legislator’s biological brother Vinod Mehta, brother-in-law, Rajnikant Singh and former BJP corporator- Prashant Keluskar, said the police who are also under the scanner for treating the rich and politically connected people with kid-gloves in serious environment related cases. Despite the fourth case against his brother, the MLA clarified that the allegations are baseless.

“All the permissions and sanctions are in place and nothing illegal has taken place.” maintained Narendra Mehta, who is in the eye of a storm over allegations in context to massive irregularities and illegal reclamation of wetlands and destruction of lush mangrove belts to pave way for Seven Eleven Club - an ultra-luxurious club being built by him for the rich at the cost of nature.