Sambhajinagar civic body to file police case over ‘misleading’ Seven Hills encroachment demolition video

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The civic body is set to register a police case against those responsible for allegedly circulating a misleading social media video related to the recent anti-encroachment drive carried out in the Seven Hills area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city.Amol Yedage, commissioner of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation, on Saturday ordered a review after a viral video alleged that the civic body had destroyed the livelihood of a differently-abled woman during an anti-encroachment drive, officials said, even as an inquiry found the claims to be misleading.The controversy followed a demolition drive last week by the municipal corporation's anti-encroachment department from Seven Hills to Shahnurmiya Dargah Chowk, during which pot sellers had been removed from footpaths near Fransalian School and nearby govt offices. Officials said the encroachments had been causing inconvenience to pedestrians and traffic.Soon after, a video surfaced on social media showing a differently-abled woman gathering broken earthen pots, with claims that her livelihood had been destroyed by the drive. The video triggered criticism of the civic administration.Acting on the matter, encroachment control officer Santosh Vahule visited the site and conducted an inquiry. Officials said the probe revealed that the woman was not associated with the pot-selling business and survives by begging near the Gajanan Maharaj temple.Civic officials alleged that the woman had been used in the video to spread misinformation and tarnish the administration's image. Her family members, including her mother and sister, also expressed anger over the circulation of the allegedly misleading video, the officials added.The municipal corporation has initiated steps to file a police complaint against those responsible for creating and circulating the video.Meanwhile, commissioner Yedage directed officials to extend financial assistance to the woman by including her in a municipal welfare scheme for differently-abled citizens. Under the scheme, she is expected to receive a monthly allowance of around Rs 3,500, officials said, adding that the support aims to ensure she does not have to depend on begging for survival.