SC relief for Sonu Sood, says no coercive action till application to regularize structure is processed

The Supreme Court on Friday granted relief to actor Sonu Sood, who moved the apex court on 23 January, after the Bombay high court had dismissed his plea seeking relief against an unauthorized construction notice filed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

According to the legal website, LiveLaw.in, Sood's counsel Mukul Rohatgi withdrew the special leave petition and writ petition and asked for the court's liberty to decide on the application of regularisation. 

The actor was challenging the BMC's notice against the alleged transformation of his residential building into a hotel. The actor had followed up with a plea in the metropolitan magistrate court and later the Bombay high court, both of whom refused to offer any relief. 

The Supreme Court maintained that since the actor had applied for regularisation, no coercive action was to be taken against him until the plea is processed. 

The legal website also quoted the judge's bench as stating that in response to the notice of October 2020 by the BMC of illegal construction under Section 53 (1) of the MRTP Act, the petitioner had filed for regularisation   

Relieved by the judgment, Sood out a statement on social media: "The Hon'be Supreme Court has finally given me a breath of fresh air and time to take corrective measures. The structure was always legal despite being coloured otherwise. I feel vindicated since I have always had utmost faith in the judiciary, and have always strived to abide by the law (sic)."

Sood has consistently maintained that all constructions and modifications to the building are legal. Slamming 'certain persons with ulterior motives', Sood's statement further read, "My sole endeavour has been to conduct my business in a fair manner with all the requisite funds and clearances as required may be required in law. Unfortunately, I have had to suffer at the hands of certain persons with nefarious designs, who were out to malign my image. My request to everyone is to not give in to the demands of such people who are masquerade (sic) as social activists, but are essentially not."