Gangster Ambekar’s bungalow demolished
| Date :26-Feb-2020 |
Staff Reporter :
As billowing dust swirled-up in the air amidst cacophony of huge machines engaged to take apart the 'excesses' of gangster Santosh Ambekar, it was a telling commentary on rise and fall of a lad who grew up and made a big but ‘bad’ name for himself in midst of the city’s bullion market. Tuesday was a special day as after a long hiatus officials of civic body were back in Itwari, the wholesale market area of city, to take-up incomplete task. Under watchful eyes of city police machinery, the giant paws of JCB and a poclain machine pulled apart the concrete structure of 'Santosh Kothi', the abode of Ambekar.
A horde of onlookers jammed the narrow Hamalpura Lane in proximity of city’s bullion market as huge machines kicked up the dust while demolishing the excess construction done in violation of the norms. It was city police that first opened a front against Ambekar leading to breaking up of his famed gang during last year. Going beyond the call of duty, cops dug deep into means through which Ambekar had amassed huge property. Using powers under MCOCA, cops detected that Ambekar had illegally amalgamated three plots and construction was in excess of the approved building bye-laws to establish his fiefdom in city.
After establishing the illegality, city police wrote to NMC and pressed for action to demolish the illegal construction. During last year, a small balcony on first floor at one of the three buildings that Ambekar owned was demolished by the anti-encroachment squad. The action later however was held-up but post arrival of new Municipal Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, NMC officials were back with gusto. As Mundhe took review of department and came to know about incomplete action he directed anti-encroachment squad to restart the operation to demolish the excess construction at Santosh Kothi. The anti-encroachment squad of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) started the process to demolish the excess portion around 11.30 am.
The officials part of the team said the construction of Santosh Kothi was nothing ordinary, the two JCB and a Poclain operators faced quite a hard time in pulling down the walls and columns. Officials said there were three plots, one in name of Neha Santosh Ambekar and here surplus construction of 60.15 metres was done, in second plot registered under name of Amarchand Maganlal Mehta the excess construction was estimated at 721.56 sq.mtrs, while third plot was in name of Santosh Ambekar himself and here extra construction was of 21.30 sq.mtrs.
A common building plan was found wherein on ground floor of three buildings the ceiling height was nearly six metres. Each of the building was integrated and a sprawling hall covering all the three plots was constructed and above that rooms were built. Officials of NMC were awe struck by vastness of the hall that too in congested area like Itwari. Police officials who were at spot were busy filming the entire interiors as part of documentation and much of the designing of interior was similar to one seen in Hindi films, with staircase opening into drawing room, the massive hall.
During the demolition drive, Ambekar’s wife and son turned-up at the spot and tried to stop the action. However with strict orders from superiors and presence of police contingent, Ambekar family could only watch in disbelief as civic officials went about their task. The drive would continue on Wednesday also, said the officials. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection), Crime Branch, Gajanan Rajmane, Sr. Police Inspector, Lakadganj Police Station, Narendra Hiwre, Police Inspector Chaudhari, Assistant Commissioner, NMC, Ashok Patil, Enforcement Inspector Sanjay Kamble were also present during the drive. Deputy Commissioner, NMC, Mahesh Morone, also visited the spot and supervised the action undertaken by civic body.