The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) on Thursday demolished unauthorised portions of the home of Rishabh Shukla, the prime accused in the killing of three members of a family in the city’s Brahmani Tola area. Officials said action was also initiated against illegal portions of two other properties linked to the case.
The demolition followed a court order issued to the LDA after complaints of illegal construction and encroachment on Nazul land. The authority said the building owner had been given the prescribed time to comply before enforcement action began.
According to the LDA, Shukla’s house had been constructed without a sanctioned layout plan. During an inspection, officials found the construction to be completely unauthorised, while the family members were unable to produce an approved building plan or other supporting documents, LDA secretary Gyanendra Verma said.
The action took place days after the deaths of Shivaji Tiwari, Shivendra Tiwari alias Shambhu and Suyash Tiwari in the Naubasta locality of Brahmani Tola, which falls under the limits of Saadatganj police station. Shukla has been arrested along with five others in connection with the killings. The demolition action concerns alleged violations of construction and land-use rules and does not determine the criminal case against the accused.
The LDA enforcement team had sealed Shukla’s residence on October 27 with assistance from a heavy police contingent. On Thursday, a large police force was deployed in the locality as bulldozers removed the illegal portions in the presence of senior LDA officials. The police deployment was intended to maintain law and order during the operation.
The case highlights the enforcement role of development authorities in regulating construction, sanctioned building plans and occupation of Nazul land. Under the action described by the LDA, the authority proceeded after an inspection, the absence of supporting approvals and a court-directed process. The report did not specify the total area demolished or provide details of the alleged unauthorised portions of the two other properties.
LDA officials said the enforcement action was continuing against the properties connected with the case. Further action will depend on the authority’s proceedings concerning the identified unauthorised construction and the applicable court directions.
