Shrikant Tyagi case: Palm trees back in Noida society; 'remove them in two days', warn officials

Around 15 palm trees were transplanted in Grand Omaxe society's common area in the backyard of Shrikant Tyagi's apartment, nearly two months after the politician was caught on camera allegedly assaulting a woman resident over objecting the plantation.

Noida: More than a dozen palm trees were again transplanted outside the ground-floor apartment of Shrikant Tyagi on Tuesday, nearly two months after the now-jailed politician was caught on camera allegedly assaulting a woman resident of his society in Sector 93B for objecting to the plantation. The well-grown palm trees, around 15 in number, were transplanted in Grand Omaxe society's common area in the backyard of Tyagi's apartment even as the local police officials remained deployed there on duty. While the residents of the society who had objected to the plantation in the common area in August expressed concern once again on Tuesday, a team of Noida Authority officials rushed to the spot in the afternoon and warned the Tyagi family to have the trees removed in two days or the officials would be forced to "remove the encroachment" themselves.

Tyagi, who flexed political connections and claimed association with the ruling BJP, was caught on camera assaulting a woman co-resident of the society in the first week of August. 

He was also heard hurling expletives at the woman, who objected to the plantation by him in common area. Later, an FIR was lodged and he remained at large for four days before being arrested and booked under the Gangsters Act and other relevant IPC sections.

"Yes, the trees have been planted today and we have raised our concerns. The police have remained deployed in the society since last month. Since it was a working day and many of the residents who usually come out for common causes were away at work, there was not much resistance to the plantation today. The residents, of course, are concerned but there is no panic. The other activities are continuing in the society as usual,? Avinash Mathur, president of Grand Omaxe apartment owners association, told PTI.

The Noida Authority team, led by Additional CEO Praveen Mishra, inspected the site and issued a warning to the Tyagi family to "remove the encroachment" within two days, else it would be forcefully removed, an official said.

The warning was also issued to other residents of the society who also appeared to have encroached common areas, the official added.

According to officials, in the wake of the whole episode in August, the Noida Authority had issued encroachment notices to around 300 residents of Grand Omaxe.

The authority had bulldozed a portion of the porch constructed by Tyagi and removed the palm trees in August, citing a violation of rules.