UNI

Mumbai, Jul 30: Seven illegal structures allegedly belonging to prime accused in 1993 Mumbai blasts Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, constructed on Central Public Work Department's (CPWD) land at Crawford market in South Mumbai were demolished by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials on Saturday morning.

Deputy Municipal Commissioner Dr Kishor Shirsagar, who was monitoring the demolition told UNI that seven structures constructed around the twin shopping complexes named 'Sara Sahara' at Crawford market, also known as Munim market, were demolished within five hours today.

Dr Shirsagar said all seven demolished structures and Sara Sahara complexes were constructed on 25,000 sq ft of CPWD plots by Abdul Sattar and Rehman Sheikh who are partners in Global Marketing firm.

He said Sara Sahara complexes were not demolished today because defence has an application, which is still pending in the Bombay High Court. After the disposal of that application the Corporation will take appropriate action.

The MCOCA (Maharashtra Control for Organised Crime Act) court Judge Mridula Bhatkar had visited the site on July 25, this year for inspection and thereafter she had given an order for demolition of the twin complexes to the civic body. But, an application is pending with Bombay High Court due to which the civic authority did not demolish the complexes.

In this case eight accused were arrested - Iqbal Kaskar, younger brother of Dawood Ibrahim, Abdul Sattar, Abdul Rehman Sheikh, Tariq Praveen, an aide Chhota Shakeel and four BMC officers - Kiran Acharekar, Shirish Shalvekar, Narendra Rajbhar and Hashmukh Shah for giving clearance certificate for construction of the illegal complexes.

The complex having 350-odd galas and godown was constructed in the year 2001.