Buddha Bhushan press razed by private party, BMC to HC
Buddha Bhushan Press Demolished by Private Party, BMC Alleges Lack of Permission
Buddha Bhushan press razed by private – Mumbai’s municipal corporation (BMC) has submitted an affidavit to the Bombay High Court, asserting that the destruction of the historic Babasaheb Ambedkar Bhavan in Dadar occurred in June 2016 through a “private party” without prior consultation or approval from the corporation. This statement diverges from the claims of the trustees who orchestrated the demolition, according to court records.
Police Commissioner’s Testimony Contradicts Trust’s Narrative
Mumbai police commissioner Deven Bharti, whose testimony was requested by the court, stated that the trustees who initiated the demolition informed authorities the building was being razed after the BMC issued a notice. Bharti also emphasized the police had no prior intelligence about a gathering at the site on the night of the incident.
“The crowd assembled during the demolition was a ‘flash crowd,’ noticed by a patrolling officer at 2:30 am,” Bharti noted in an affidavit dated June 11.
Historic Significance of the Centre and Its Demolition
Established by Dalit leader Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in 1930, the Babasaheb Ambedkar Bhavan served as a pivotal hub for distributing Dalit literature and promoting his ideological legacy. The site, which also housed the Buddha Bhushan printing press, was dismantled in 2016 at the request of certain trustees amid internal disputes within the trust. These trustees allegedly used a fraudulent structural audit to pressure the BMC into issuing a notice alleging the building was in disrepair.
Legal Challenges and Court’s Response
A group of petitions led by Prakash Ambedkar, head of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and Dr. Ambedkar’s grandson, and others argue the demolition was unlawful. On April 30, a high court bench expressed dismay over the midnight operation, highlighting the police’s “evident inaction” as inconsistent with legal principles. The court ordered the police commissioner to submit a personal affidavit regarding the intelligence department’s preparedness for the 400-strong mob that arrived at the site on June 25, 2016.
Accusations of Police Inaction and Delayed Response
The petition alleges that Anand Ambedkar, Prakash’s brother, reported the bulldozers’ arrival to the Bhoiwada police station. However, the then deputy commissioner of police, N. Ambika, is said to have threatened him with detention and refused to deploy officers to halt the process. When Anand returned, the printing press had already been destroyed. Petitioners claim no thorough investigation was conducted into the stolen property or the demolition itself, prompting legal action in April 2017.
Police Affirmation of BMC’s Role in the Demolition
On June 15, municipal commissioner Ashwini Bhide filed a reply affidavit, stating, “No permission for demolition or taking possession was sought or granted by anyone.” Bhide described the incident as an “isolated case,” suggesting the BMC was not directly involved in the removal of the structure. The affidavit aligns with the BMC’s initial claim that the demolition was carried out by a private entity without civic authorization.