The Nasirnagar demolition probe in Surat has widened, with a high-level government committee summoning developers linked to projects allegedly built on the disputed land without approved plans, as well as the contractor agency that supplied JCB machinery for the demolition.
The development comes as the Gujarat High Court is scheduled to hear a petition filed by people affected by the demolition. The court has directed the state government to clarify its position on the matter, placing the final report of the two-member high-level inquiry committee under close scrutiny.
According to the report, the committee has already examined statements from the municipal inquiry panel, suspended officers and employees, and police officers and personnel connected with the case. It has also recorded the statements of a former police commissioner and a former municipal commissioner before calling the developers for questioning.
The developers summoned by the committee are those reportedly involved in developing projects on the disputed land without plan approval. The committee has also called the contractor agency that made the JCB machines available for the demolition operation. The inquiry is therefore examining not only the demolition itself but also the planning and administrative processes surrounding development on the site.
The committee is expected to question employees linked to the electricity shutdown carried out during the demolition. A staff member from the Central Zone electrical department reportedly contacted the power company to disconnect the electricity supply. The committee is set to record statements from the municipal employee who made the call and the company employee who received it.
A deputy commissioner from the establishment department of the city development department has also been asked to appear before the committee again. The official had previously been questioned, and the fresh summons indicate that the committee is seeking additional clarification before completing its findings.
The inquiry originally had a two-month deadline, which ended on September 18. The committee had sought additional time, stating that further investigation was necessary. The report now says the inquiry has reached its final stage and that the committee may submit its findings to the state government in the coming days.
The High Court hearing and the committee’s final position are expected to determine the next official steps in the case. The immediate proceedings will include the hearing on the affected residents’ petition and the questioning of the developers, the JCB contractor agency, municipal personnel and electricity-company representatives.
