Actor Abhijeet Kelkar alleges SRA officials ignored slum residents at hearings

Marathi actor Abhijeet Kelkar has questioned the working of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) in Mumbai. In a long Instagram post, he described his own experience with the SRA. He alleged that slum residents are being treated unjustly and that SRA officials are not listening to them.

Kelkar wrote in the post that he is himself fighting this case and has had an extremely bad experience of the SRA system. According to him, the SRA is a highly corrupt system, though he made clear that there are some exceptions. Two to three hearings were held at the SRA office on the dispute between the builder and the slum residents. He said that in these hearings both sides should have been heard and a fair decision taken, so that the residents were not wronged and the builder could also carry out redevelopment properly.

Kelkar alleges that, in fact, his side was never heard during the hearings. Referring to a woman officer of the SRA, he said that several lawyers were present on the builder's side, while he and some residents of the area were on the other. He alleged that after listening to the builder's lawyers, the woman officer refused to hear him when he tried to put his case.

Kelkar claims the officer also said, "I will issue an order and have your slum demolished within 24 hours. Even the court will not be able to do anything after my order." He said this happened in two hearings. According to the post, he replied firmly: "Demolish the house within 24 hours and show me. I will be the first person to lie down under the bulldozer you bring."

Kelkar further said that after the officials' order, the slum residents approached the AGRC and obtained a stay on it. He said the stay is still in force. However, he voiced fear that, under pressure from some elected representatives, a notice to demolish the slum could be signed at any time after the Diwali government holidays.

He also alleged that many eligible residents of the area were declared ineligible merely because they are against the builder, even though they have the necessary documents and certificates. On the other hand, he claimed, some people on the builder's side had illegal huts shown as dwellings and got themselves declared eligible, creating the impression that more residents support the project.

Kelkar also spoke about alleged corruption in the SRA. He alleged that Rs 3 lakh to Rs 3.5 lakh is being taken to make ineligible residents eligible. He asked what residents who are already in poor financial condition and are not educated are supposed to do.

He also said the builder is paying residents Rs 14,000 in rent. He said it is difficult to find a house for rent in the surrounding area for so little. According to him, this too is causing injustice to residents.

Kelkar has appealed to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to take note of the matter. He has demanded a thorough inquiry, a proper examination of all documents, and that no demolition of the slum be carried out until the inquiry is complete.