Mumbai:

Actor Kangana Ranaut was warned two years ago about the alleged illegal construction at her Mumbai office and she had gone to court at the time, asking for relief, NDTV has found. The Mumbai civic body had moved in to demolish the alleged illegal structure today, which was halted mid-way by an order from the Bombay High Court after she challenged the notice by the Brihanmumbai Corporation.

The demolition at Manikarnika Films, the movie production house in west Mumbai’s Khar, comes amid an intense battle between the actor — a known supporter of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi — and Maharashtra’s alliance government led by Shiv Sena, that started with her criticism of Mumbai Police following actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death.

The Sena also controls the BMC and the actor has alleged that the demolition is just vendetta.

Documents from the court of the Additional Sessions Judge, dated October 20, 2018, however,  shows that Ms Ranaut had gone to court “asking for an-interim relief” regarding a notice dated 28.3.2018 and order dated 10.09.2018 — a period when the BJP was in power in the state.

“In fact, earlier also the Deft/MCGM was directed to consider the reply of the plaintiff. However to subserve the interest of the justice and to have a fair opportunity to the plaintiff, it is appropriate to direct the Deft/MCGM to consider the reply of the plaintiff afresh and pass fresh speaking order. The plaintiff is also at liberty to move the proposal for regularisation if necessary and permissible to the Deft/Corporation in respect of the notice structure,” the order read.

On Monday, Ms Ranaut had accused city officials of having “forcefully” taken over the office of Manikarnika Films.

“I am informed tomorrow they are demolishing my property,” she tweeted. In another tweet, she claimed: “I have all the papers (and) BMC permissions… nothing illegal (has been done) in my property. BMC should send a structure plan to show the illegal construction with a notice”.

Ms Ranaut, who was in Himachal Pradesh, took a flight for Mumbai today as a bulldozer started the demolition at her office. Later, she posted a series of videos of the demolition, tweeting, “There is no illegal construction in my house, also government has banned any demolitions in Covid till September 30, Bullywood watch now this is what Fascism looks like”.

The 33-year-old has also taken on Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, warning him that the “wheel of time… never stays the same”.

The battle between the Sena and Ms Ranaut escalated after her comments that she was “scared” to live in Mumbai in view of the law and order under the current government and comparison of the country’s financial capital to Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

The Sena has accused the BJP of fighting a proxy war through her.

Sharad Pawar, whose Nationalist Congress Party is part of Maharashtra’s ruling alliance, has said the timing of the demolition was unfortunate and only generated “unnecessary publicity” for Kangana Ranaut.