A potential security and privacy breach near the residence of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has sparked a political row in Mumbai. Thackeray took to social media on Sunday to claim that a drone was spotted hovering near and “peeping” inside his home before swiftly flying away when noticed.
The incident was quickly followed by a statement from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which asserted that the drone activity was part of a legitimate survey being conducted for the adjacent Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) area, undertaken with the necessary permission from the Mumbai Police.
Thackeray Questions Official Explanation
Aaditya Thackeray immediately challenged the MMRDA’s justification, demanding transparency and questioning the unusual nature of the alleged survey.
Aaditya Thackeray (on X): “A drone was caught peeping into our residence this morning, and when the media learnt about it, the @MMRDAOfficial is saying it was a survey being done for BKC with permission of the Mumbai Police. Okay.”
He proceeded to raise critical questions about the nature of the alleged surveillance:
- “What survey allows you to peep inside homes and fly out quickly when spotted?”
- “Why weren’t residents informed?”
- “Is MMRDA only doing surveillance of our house for the entire BKC?”
Allegations of MMRDA Corruption
Thackeray also used the incident to launch an attack on the MMRDA’s operational efficiency and governance, urging the body to “get on the ground and focus on the sham of its work.” He specifically cited the MTHL (Atal Setu) project as an “example of its corruption.”
The incident highlights growing concerns over privacy and security, especially around high-profile residences, even with official bodies citing mandated survey work. Thackeray’s key point remains why, if police permission was secured, were residents in the area not given prior intimation about the aerial activity.