Suspended NCP corporator allowed to attend TMC general meeting

A local court today allowed corporator Hira Patil, who is in custody in connection with the Mumbra building collapse, to attend the general body meeting of the municipal corporation tomorrow.
Patil was arrested among 22 others in connection with the collapse of the illegal seven-storey building located in Lucky Compound in Mumbra locality in April. 74 people were killed in the mishap which is believed to be the fallout of unchecked spate of illegal constructions in the area.
Patil, who was suspended by NCP after the incident, is accused of accepting bribe from the builder of the building to facilitate its construction without securing any permissions.

Additional sessions judge K R Warrier, hearing the case, allowed Patil to attend the meeting on the condition that he would bear the expenses for police escort.
Patil had requested permission to attend the meeting under the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporations (BPMC) Act, saying as he could not attend the two successive meetings held earlier and if fails to attend again he will lose his corporatorship.
Patil's counsel Gajanan Chavan produced a letter from the Leader of Opposition in municipal corporation Sanjay Bhoir in this regard.
Opposing Patil's plea, assistant public prosecutor Hemlata Deshmukh told the court that general body can make exception in Patil's case since he is in custody.

She also pointed out that as per the provisions of the BPMC Act any corporator who indulges or encourages illegal constructions is liable to be disqualified and requested court to not grant Patil's prayer taking into consideration the gravity of the offence.