(Clubbing Kapil series)

Kapil faces scrutiny by Forest dept on harming of mangroves Mumbai, Sep 13 (PTI) Already facing heat over his tweet inwhich he had accused an unknown BMC official of seeking bribefor facilitating a construction, comedian Kapil Sharma is nowfacing scrutiny by Forest department over suspected harming ofmangroves in construction of his office in Versova here. Adding to his woes, police may question Sharma soon inconnection with unauthorised alterations in his flat in abuilding in suburban Goregaon, for which he was bookedyesterday under section 53(7) of Maharashtra Regional TownPlanning Act (MRTP) 1966. The Kapil episode has opened a can of worms, with Forestdepartment swinging into action to check violations, if any,by the comedian as well as the flat owners and developers inthe vicinity of his Versova office. Forest officials visited Kapil’s office yesterday andsurveyed its premises and surrounding areas. "Following instructions from Chief Conservator of Forest,our team visited the spot from where we received complaints.We found that there have been violations not only by Sharma,but 50-60 other flat owners also," Assistant ForestConservator Makarand Ghodke told PTI today. "All these occupants here have harmed the mangroves intheir constructions and alterations. We have taken the GPSreading and will come out with final report in a day or twowhich will be submitted to the collector to take a finalcall," he said. The comedian’s tweet last week that he was asked to coughup Rs 5 lakh as bribe for "making" his office in a suburb by acivic official had kicked up a huge storm. Exacerbating therow, the comedian, in another tweet following the first one,had tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to question hispromise of "acche din". However, Sharma was forced on backfoot as it came to lightthat he had allegedly made unauthorised alterations in hisAndheri bungalow as well, despite BMC notice to stop work. Police are likely to serve notice to Kapil in a day or twoafter conducting ‘panchnama’ in connection with allegedalteration in his flat at DLH Enclave in Goregaon. "Our documentation is going on and we will issue him anotice in a day or two, after doing ‘panchnama’ (preliminaryinvestigation)," said a senior official, who is privy to theprobe. He said that Sharma will be called once evidences aregathered by police, and that he cannot be arrested directly. Meanwhile, Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam came outin the comedian’s support and accused that BJP’s "dirty tricksdepartment" is targeting him as he dared to speak aboutcorruption in BMC, ruled by the Sena-BJP combine. PTI APM AVIGK NRB NSKSMJ