When asked on Thursday, why KMC has not yet carried out the demolition, Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya said: “We fear political protests. The nature of protest that takes place while demolishing an illegal building, which is used for residential purposes, is social. It is easier to tackle social protest rather than a political protest."

In a related incident, residents of a building located at 5 F Palm Avenue carried out a "social protest" as the KMC began pulling down two illegal floors. A large contingent of police from Karaya police station arrived as residents of the building tried to resist demolition. The building is situated near CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharya's residence.

"Three months ago we bought a flat from a promoter named Aamir Khan," said Rashid Khan, whose family lives on the second floor of the building. The landlord, Manik Majumder, and the promoter were not available for comment.