Shah, who has been without a regular source of income since his father's cloth shop at Masjid Bunder folded up, says he wants nothing more than to sell the property but sitting Shiv Sena legislator from Vile Parle, Gurunath Desai, has put his life on hold.

K-West Ward Officer, Chhotelal Dubey, admits that the plot has been encroached upon but is non-committal on whether efforts are being made to register the plot under the SRD. ``There are about 35-40 encroachments and Additional Municipal Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad has also visited the site,'' hesays. Asked why the encroachments had not been razed, Dubey says he has only just been posted at the K-West ward office and his predecessor should answer that question. On the property's status as a slum, he says the ward office will have to first ascertain whether the encroachments pre-date January 1, 1995, since slums built prior to this are entitled to be brought under the SRD. ``Hence, we have written to the collector seeking clarifications. After I receive a reply I shall initiate action accordingly. We have submitted a report as sought by the Lokayukta,'' Dubey adds.

Gurunath Desai admits that the plot has been encroached upon but denies he is one of the encroachers. Nor does he patronise those who have built unauthorised constructions on it, he says. ``I know it is improper for these structures to have come up on the plot. But they have been there for more than 25 years. Whatever has been constructed -- a gymnasium or a tailoring school, which offers free services -- is serving society. I do not haveany vested interest in the plot and I shall not be affected if the structures are pulled down,'' he told Express Newsline.