Popular comedian and actor Kapil Sharma’s tweet alleging corruption in the Shiv Sena- and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) rocked state's political circles, as leaders right from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray responding to the tweet immediately and assuring action if the claims made by Mr. Sharma were found to be true.
Mr. Sharma tweeted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday morning that he had been paying Rs 15 crore as income tax for the last five years, and was still asked for a Rs 5 lakh bribe by the civic body to make his office. He went on to question the PM if these were ‘acchhe din’ that he had promised.
I am paying 15 cr income tax from last 5 year n still i have to pay 5 lacs bribe to BMC office for making my office >@narendramodi
— KAPIL (@KapilSharmaK9) >September 9, 2016
While the BMC sent him a letter asking him to furnish details about the officials who sought bribe from him and promised to take action, it also emerged that the civic body had served the comedian a notice on July 16, asking him to stop illegal construction of his commercial property on a residential plot near Versova mangroves.
Yeh hain aapke achhe din ? >@narendramodi
— KAPIL (@KapilSharmaK9) >September 9, 2016
Kapilbhai pls provide all info. Have directed MC,BMC to take strictest action. We will not spare the culprit. >@KapilSharmaK9>@narendramodi
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) >September 9, 2016
Mr. Sharma has allegedly built his office over a 4,000 sq ft area and a second floor is under construction on the ground plus one property which is not allowed as per the BMC rules. Being close to mangroves, it is also alleged that forest was cut to go ahead with the construction. The actor has not responded to the BMC notice.
Earlier, taking a note of his tweet, Mr. Fadnavis replied on Twitter within three hours. “Kapilbhai pls provide all info. Have directed MC, BMC to take strictest action. We will not spare the culprit.@KapilSharmaK9 @narendramodi,” said the Maharashtra CM on his Twitter handle.
Sena too jumped into the bandwagon after sensing a possible onslaught on BMC, Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray too joined the league. “@KapilSharmaK9 thank you for being an alert Mumbaikar. Wld req you to assist Mayor and the MC to help in the drive against corruption,” he said. Mr. Thackeray also advised the comedian that details of the officer would be required to initiate action.
The BMC held an urgent press conference on Friday morning at 12.30 PM, where its officer from Vigilance Department called it a serious allegation. "Kapil ji's allegation is very serious. We have asked him to give name of person who asked for bribe. We have not received any formal complaint from Kapil Sharma till now,” said Manohar Pawar from the BMC’s Vigilance Department.
— nitesh rane (@NiteshNRane) >September 9, 2016
Milind Deora also reacted.
Kudos >@KapilSharmaK9 for exposing BMC's institutionalised extortion racket & thx for lending millions of Mumbaikars your voice >#KapilSharma
— Milind Deora (@milinddeora) >September 9, 2016