Overview
- Principal District and Sessions Judge Dinesh Bhatt allowed the protest petition and directed the CBI investigating officer to conduct further investigation.
- The detailed order questions the focus on lower-level staff and instructs scrutiny of supervisory MCD officials for possible dereliction or corrupt practices.
- The court notes signs that violations tied to the basement’s long-running unauthorized use may have been ignored or superficially inspected.
- The petitioner flags alleged lapses such as missing soil testing, irregular completion and occupancy certificates, and disputed building height, with the next hearing set for April 30.
- The CBI defends its work as thorough, citing findings on chronic waterlogging and illegal basement use and noting chargesheet filings in September 2024 and April 2025 that include some MCD and fire officials.