The Adarsh Society building must be knocked down within three months India's environment ministry has ordered the demolition of a block of flats in Mumbai that has been at the centre of a corruption scandal.
It said the Adarsh Society building must be demolished within three months for breaching coastal protection laws.
The 31-storey high-rise was originally planned as a six-storey housing project for war widows.
But flats were sold to politicians and military officers, allegedly at prices far below the market rate.
The block, in an exclusive part of central Mumbai, exceeds the maximum height for buildings near the coast.
"Out of three options the Ministry has decided to remove entire structure," said a statement from the environment ministry.
"Any other decision would have diluted the strong precedents that have been set in judgements of the Supreme Court."
The state's chief minister, Ashok Chavan, had to resign over the building, after it emerged that relatives of his had flats there.
He denied any wrongdoing at the time of his resignation.
Lawyers representing the owners of the building say they will challenge the demolition order.
The case is one of several corruption scandals that have shaken India's government.
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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-south-asia-12203380
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