SC declines to stay demolition of Dawood's properties

New Delhi, July 28 (UNI) The Supreme Court today refused to stay the demolition of seven commercial structures located in Sara-Sahara shopping complex in Mumbai, believed to be the properties of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

A Division Bench, comprising Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice D K Jain, however, posted the hearing of the case for July 31.

Senior counsel Mukul Rohtagi, appearing for the owner of the property, which is scheduled to be demolished by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai tomorrow, pleaded before the court that a MCOCA court in Mumbai has directed the civic body to demolish all the seven commercial buildings within 48 hours.

Mr Rohtagi also pleaded that the commercial complexes due to be demolished are the case properties as the same have been attached after declaring Dawood Ibrahim a proclaimed offender in the 1993 serial bomb blast case in Mumbai.

Notably, earlier the apex court had also given the green signal to the civic body to go ahead with the demolition of the alleged properties of Dawood.

Other accused in the bomb blast case include extradited underworld don Abu Salem, Dubai-based Memons and others.

UNI AKS/SC KD PM2228