Mumbai: In a case raising serious questions about accountability and authority, a resident of Vasai West, near the Deewanman area, has alleged that his property was illegally demolished by a Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) official without any prior notice or authorization.
Farzan Khan, the owner of the plot in question, claimed that Assistant Commissioner Gilson Gonzalves from the Prabhag Samiti ‘H’ of the VVMC arrived at his property with a group of men and began demolishing his shed and boundary wall without serving any formal notice. “They came without warning and started demolishing my property. I was shocked. There was no notice, no explanation, nothing,” Khan stated.
Farzan further alleged that during the demolition, several items were taken from his premises, including a bag of coal and parts of the cement sheet roofing (patra). “It was not just illegal demolition—it turned into looting. Things were stolen from my property while I stood helpless,” he added.
Following the incident, Khan said he sent a legal notice to the Municipal Commissioner, demanding an explanation and justification for the action. However, he received no response. Refusing to back down, Khan filed a Right to Information (RTI) request seeking clarity on the matter. When he did not receive any reply, he proceeded to file a first appeal—again with no response.
Determined to get justice, Khan filed a second appeal with the RTI Commissioner in Belapur. It was only then that the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation responded. In a shocking twist, the VVMC claimed in its official reply that it had not taken any action against Farzan Khan’s property.
“If the demolition was not carried out by the municipal body, then under whose authority did Assistant Commissioner Gilson Gonzalves demolish my property?” Farzan questioned. “I have all the proof—letters I sent and received, videos, and photos of the demolition. This cannot be brushed under the carpet.”
