High Court directs FIR against Asansol Municipal Corporation
The Statesman | 3 August 2025
The Calcutta High Court has directed that an FIR be lodged against Asansol Municipal Corporation (AMC) for allegedly demanding Rs 20 lakh as a penalty for an illegal construction in a factory in Jamuria.
Justice Gaurang Kanth ordered that an FIR be registered and police commence investigations. The hearing in the case is scheduled for Monday.
On 5 June, Asansol Municipal Corporation issued a notice to a factory in Jamuria, ordering the demolition of an illegal construction. However, the company was later instructed to pay a penalty of Rs 20 lakh.
Subsequently, AMC allegedly demanded another Rs 20 lakh, the company’s lawyer told the court. On Friday, the Calcutta High Court questioned how a civic body could “legalise” illegal constructions by imposing penalties, and recommended a police investigation.
Earlier, AMC had issued notices to eleven factories in Jamuria and Raniganj, instructing them to demolish illegal structures. It later imposed fines totalling Rs 500 crore, warning that non-compliance would result in the use of bulldozers to remove the structures.
Bidhan Upadhyay, mayor of AMC, said he was yet to receive the case details and could not comment without reviewing them.
Former Asansol mayor and current BJP leader Jitendra Tiwari has called for a high-level probe into the matter. He alleged that illegal constructions were widespread across AMC’s jurisdiction and no action had been taken. “The private company claimed to have already paid Rs 20 lakh to avoid demolition and legalise the structure, but another Rs 20 lakh was demanded, prompting them to approach the court,” Tiwari said.