The historic Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Bhavan, located behind Chitra Cinema, Dadar (east) was demolished. "We have just followed the BMC’s orders. However, Mr Gaikwad did not answer to phone calls and text message regarding the allegations against him.Gokuldas Pasta Road at Dadar (east) houses the Ambedkar Bhavan that had an old printing press started by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in 1944.The family also dismissed the trust’s plans for building a 17-storey building with various amenities in the place where Dr Ambedkar Bhavan stood. We plan to build a 17-storey structure with library, vipassana centre, conference halls and modern amenities within a year. The family members are not part of the trust set up by Dr Ambedkar then. "There were many offices, library, printing press, computer room which are demolished completely. As the building was found to be in a dilapidated condition, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had, on June 1, sent a notice to the trust indicating the status of the building. The demolition started in the early hours to avoid inconvenience to the people, as Dadar is a very crowded place. In fact, it was written by him that his family members will not be part of the trust," said Vijay Ranpise, one of the trustees. The demolition was conducted at 3 am on Saturday. However, Anandraj Ambedkar has lodged an FIR in the Bhoiwada police station against the demolition. He also added that Ambedkar family members were given offices at the building. Objecting to the demolition, members of the Ambedkar family, including Dr Ambedkar’s grandsons, Prakash Ambedkar and Anandraj Ambedkar, reached the spot to register their protest. We have lodged an FIR and want immediate action from the police. (Photo: Rajesh Jadhav)Demolition of the iconic Dr Ambedkar Bhavan near Dadar station in the early hours on Saturday has sparked a controversy, as family members of Babasaheb Ambedkar objected and filed an FIR against ‘The People’s Improvement Trust,’ which runs the institute. Dr Ambedkar’s family alleged the demolition had been carried out early in the morning to avoid protests from them. We have collected fund for that and the chief minister has also sanctioned stickers `10 crore for us," Mr Ranpise added. The demolition was conducted in the wee hours to avoid protest from us. Following the notice, the trust decided to demolish the building. One of the former trustees and present Information Commissioner of the state, Ratnakar Gaikwad, is behind the demolition," Mr Ambedkar alleged. "One of its walls also collapsed during this monsoon and hence we decided to demolish the building.