Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday criticised drone sighting near his residence `Matoshree`, calling the incident `shameful` and example of a `surveillance state`.
Aaditya Thackeray wrote on X that the drone hovered at his window level until he began recording it, after which it reportedly moved away erratically. He questioned how many other homes might have been observed without residents’ consent, despite the MMRDA stating the survey covered the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) area.
“Even if the MMRDA claims it was conducting a survey of BKC, by not informing residents, how many people’s homes have they looked into?” Thackeray asked. He also contrasted this with restrictions on voting booth footage, saying, “No other government agency, globally, would justify such police state actions under the name of ‘survey’,” he wrote in a post on X.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Anil Parab on Sunday claimed a drone was spotted hovering over `Matoshree`, the Mumbai residence of party head and former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, and raised concerns about a potential breach in a high-security zone.
In a post on X, Parab said the police should investigate the matter, find out the identity of the drone operator and the motive behind the aerial “filming”. He also wondered if there was any “terrorist background” behind it.
`Matoshree`, located in Mumbai`s Bandra area, is a heavily guarded residence.
Parab said that flying a drone or filming with it in such a sensitive, high-security area without prior permission is a grave matter.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Police sources clarified that the drone survey had proper permission and was taking place in BKC and the nearby Kherwadi area. Authorities urged the public to avoid spreading misinformation regarding the operation.
Responding to Aaditya Thackeray`s post on X, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) stated the drone exercise was conducted to aid a visual study of the approved alignment for the Personal Rapid Transit (POD) taxi project along Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC).
The authority had secured all necessary approvals from the police department on behalf of the concessionaire, and the survey, carried out over the past two days, was monitored by police personnel and officials concerned, it said.
The project is being executed on a public-private partnership basis and is progressing as planned, it stated.
MMRDA reiterated that all necessary permissions were obtained by MMRDA on behalf of the concessionaire from the Police Department, and every instruction issued by them was strictly adhered to.
The certified drone operator, whose background verification has already been submitted, adhered to all instructions issued by the authorities. The operation remained fully restricted to the permitted route without any deviation, the agency stated.
“The operation remained fully compliant and restricted to the approved alignment, with no breach or deviation at any stage,” the MMRDA added.
(with PTI inputs)
