Jain Temple Razed Down, Church Next!
• Church Faces BMC Heat
• Sprouts SIT Uncovers Builder Nexus
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
A 90-year-old Jain temple dedicated to Lord Parshvanath in Vile Parle, Mumbai, was recently demolished by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The action followed a complaint from a local hotelier named Chandrashekhar, who allegedly cultivated financial ties with civic officials to expedite the demolition. This event has sparked serious concerns across Mumbai’s religious and residential communities.
• The Real Estate Nexus: Church in Bhandup Receives Demolition Notice Amid Infrastructure Expansion Plans
The BMC has now issued a demolition notice to Methodist Tamil Church in Bhandup, a privately-owned religious establishment over 15–20 years old. The civic body claims the church includes over 1,000 square feet of unauthorized construction. Local sources note that the church’s structure is fully legal, yet faces threats of demolition under the same civic drive that razed the Jain temple.
Adjacent to the church is a small temple, which may also face destruction. The reach of this civic action is broad—affecting six private companies, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (Mahavitaran), and several legally constructed homes and residential compounds. All these entities have reportedly received formal demolition notices.
• The Real Estate Nexus: Urban Development or Real Estate Collusion? SIT Probes Bhandup Road Widening
The core of the controversy lies in Bhandup West, near the local police station and Atmaram Bhoir Marg. The BMC has approved a road widening project for this stretch, triggering unrest among residents. Veteran social activist Sanjeevkumar Sadanand has opposed the move, questioning its intent and timing.
According to findings by the Sprouts News Special Investigation Team (SIT), the real impetus behind the road expansion may not be public convenience. Sources allege that developers constructing three to four towers along the road influenced civic decisions through massive under-the-table payments. The objective, reportedly, is to enhance the financial value of these real estate projects.
Local residents, speaking to Sprouts News on condition of anonymity, confirmed the SIT’s findings—suggesting that the civic push for road widening is a façade for benefitting private builders.
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• The Real Estate Nexus: Legal Battle Against Civic Overreach Gains Momentum
Residents have responded by filing writ petitions in the Bombay High Court, challenging the BMC’s demolition notices and questioning the legality of its methods. However, sources claim that some civic officials—accused of aligning with builder interests—are pressing ahead with pre-hearing demolitions.
The Sprouts News Special Investigation Team (SIT) has documented concerns that the Methodist Tamil Church, the adjacent temple, and surrounding homes could be razed before legal proceedings begin. This has led to mounting anxiety among affected communities, who fear irreversible damage before the judiciary can intervene.
• We will oppose the BMC’s policy at every level. If needed, we’ll go to court—and if that doesn’t work, we’ll take to the streets. This is not just about buildings, it’s about justice.”
— Sanjeevkumar Sadanandan, Senior Social Worker
