HC pulls up KMC over 42 ‘illegal constructions’, orders CBI probe
Times of India | 12 September 2026Chief Justice Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge observed that illegal construction was continuing in Kolkata, as it does in Mumbai, and stressed the need for proactive action by civic authorities. If a construction is illegal, he asked, why should the civic body not demolish it itself? Police protection, he added, was a separate matter.
When KMC’s counsel said the civic body wanted to submit a detailed report, the Chief Justice rebuked him, saying this was a way of “wasting time”. “If needed, we will summon the commissioner. They are paid to work, not to avoid working,” the division bench remarked.
The division bench directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry based on available documents and information collected from the municipality and police. If necessary, the CBI may constitute a special investigation team, the court said.
The PIL primarily alleged rampant illegal and unauthorised construction on govt land in the city, claiming a nexus between KMC officials, police and land mafias. More than 40 such constructions were identified, mostly in and around Keshav Chandra Sen Street, under the Amherst Street and Narkeldanga police station areas.
According to the PIL, the units in these alleged illegal constructions were developed entirely with unaccounted money and were being sold, transferred or otherwise dealt with through unaccounted transactions. “The money trail, involving the Money Laundering Act, to whom these flats are being sold, are all unaccounted money — construction as well as sale. Owners and occupants are also unknown. This is becoming an issue of national security. There is no record of premises,” said counsel for the litigant, Mainak Bose.
The PIL also alleged that entities were engaging in unlawful activities from these illegal constructions, including operating scam call centres.
While the litigants identified and listed more than 40 illegal constructions in their petition, the KMC’s report has confirmed 42 of them to be illegal. The civic body has also been directed to submit a further report at the next hearing on Oct 14.
The alleged illegal constructions were spread across Narkeldanga, Canal East and West Road, Girish Vidya Ratna Lane, Raja Raj Narayan Street and Keshab Chandra Sen Street. The properties included wakf and thika land.
