Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai (SR)

Mumbai, Sep 21: The Bombay high court has ordered for police investigations against BJP MLA Narendra Mehta in connection with the 'ultra-luxury' Seven Eleven Club for alleged CRZ and environmental violations. The order was passed in the wake of a petition filed by environmental activist, Dhiraj Parab in July. In the petition, Parab had alleged that despite violations punishable under the Environment Protection Act, the local police had failed to file an FIR in the matter.

He also mentioned in the petition that the Regional Mangrove Co-ordination Committee, in its February report, has mentioned that prosecution was required to be initiated against the club by the departments concerned for the destruction of mangroves since the committee observed that land-filling was done at the site, resulting in a disruption of flow of creek water.

The four-storey club has all the amenities such as football grounds, poolside restaurants, multiple tennis courts, spa and salon, party lawns, banquet halls and rooms. The club's construction is still going on.

Parab also complained that Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) gave permission to construct a gymnasium without considering that the plot is in a no-development zone. Mehta, the former mayor of the MBMC, has been in the eye of controversy in 2016, when he gifted a Lamborghini to his wife on her birthday.