Surat Nasirnagar Demolition: SMC Chief Nagarajan Under Fire After Affidavit

SURAT :  The controversial Nasirnagar demolition case has taken a dramatic turn, with fresh allegations putting Surat Municipal Commissioner M. Nagarajan under intense scrutiny. Suspended SMC Executive Engineer Sujal Prajapati has filed an affidavit before the Gujarat High Court claiming that the demolition operation was carried out following direct instructions from the municipal commissioner.

The allegations have raised serious questions over the decision-making process behind the May 30 demolition drive, in which several structures in the Nasirnagar area were demolished.

According to Prajapati’s affidavit, the groundwork for the operation was prepared on May 21 itself. He has submitted alleged WhatsApp conversations between him and Commissioner Nagarajan before, during and after the demolition as evidence before the court.

As per the alleged chat, Commissioner Nagarajan forwarded a message to Prajapati regarding clearing encroachments near Chandrashekhar Azad Bridge in Ward No. 7. The message mentioned city survey numbers 1267/1, 1267/2 and 1267/3, stating that a 40-foot TP road had been planned and required opening.

Immediately after forwarding the message, the commissioner allegedly instructed Prajapati, writing, “Complete this ASAP.”

Prajapati responded, “Yes Sir,” according to the affidavit.

The conversation allegedly continued, with Nagarajan directing coordination with the Central Zone and completion of the work at the earliest.

The affidavit further claims that on May 29, a day before the demolition, the commissioner sent a PDF file titled “Road Surface” to Prajapati, which allegedly indicated approval for the operation.

The most significant allegation relates to communication after the demolition. According to Prajapati, after the operation was completed on May 30, he sent video footage of the demolished site to Commissioner Nagarajan at around 6:30 pm with the caption “After.”

The commissioner allegedly replied, “OK.”

Prajapati has claimed that these exchanges prove that the demolition was not an independent decision taken by a junior officer but was monitored at a higher level.

The affidavit has intensified the controversy surrounding the Nasirnagar demolition, with the Gujarat High Court examining the allegations and the role of senior SMC officials.