Salman, 5 kin get forest dept notice for 'illegal' construction at farmhouse

The Maharashtra forest department has served a notice to Salman Khan and five other members of his family for what it claimed were illegal construction at the Bollywood star's farmhouse at Panvel.

The notice was served on June 9 in the name of the actor's father Salim Khan, based on a complaint by a non-resident Indian who also has a property in Panvel in adjoining Raigad district, according to a forest department official.

Salim Khan was given seven days time to respond, according to the notice.

It stated that the ownership rights of the property, called Arpita Farms, located at Wajapur area of Panvel, rest with Salman Khan, his sisters Alvira and Arpita, brothers Arbaaz and Sohail and mother Helen.

Asked about the action taken against the Khan family since the seven-day period to respond had lapsed, Maharashtra Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar today said that "due process was being followed".

When contacted, Salim Khan told PTI that all legal procedures were followed before the construction work was undertaken.

"All my structures have been regularised and the necessary fees were also paid. There is no illegal construction," the veteran scripwriter said.

The notice said, "An offence was registered on November 21, 2017 on account of violation of the Forest Act for carrying out cement/concrete construction at your Arpita farms."