MUMBAI | September 10, 2026 — The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has filed a non-cognisable complaint against the Royal Western India Turf Club after finding 10 trees missing at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse during work linked to a proposed mini-clubhouse, according to the complaint filed at Tardeo police station.
The municipal action follows an inspection of the racecourse premises, where the BMC found that eight of 43 trees marked for retention were missing. Two of the 12 trees identified for replanting were also found to be missing, according to the report and details cited in the complaint.
The tree authority’s permission for the construction work had allowed 13 trees to be cut, required 12 trees to be replanted and specified that 43 trees were to remain on the site. The BMC said the trees identified for retention were within the area affected by construction and that the club was expected to protect them and take necessary precautions.
The municipal corporation also alleged that RWITC did not give prior notice before beginning tree felling or replanting. The BMC said this amounted to a violation of provisions of the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975.
A notice issued earlier by the BMC’s garden department stated that the trees had been cut because of the club’s negligence, according to the report. RWITC submitted a response to the notice, but municipal officials said they found it unsatisfactory. The BMC subsequently filed the non-cognisable complaint at Tardeo police station.
The complaint relates to a proposed mini-clubhouse being constructed on the racecourse premises. The case raises questions about compliance with conditions attached to tree authority permissions during construction, but the report does not establish the circumstances in which each of the 10 trees went missing or whether any further action has been taken against individuals or the club.
Former IPS officer-turned-lawyer Y P Singh said the Tree Authority’s no-objection certificate should be withdrawn and that permission for the clubhouse construction should consequently be revoked. Activist Santosh Daundkar called for a proper investigation and said a case should be registered regarding the trees.
BMC officials said further action would now be for the police to take. The complaint is non-cognisable, and the report did not specify any police investigation timeline or provide details of a response from RWITC beyond its earlier reply to the municipal notice.
