Mumbai: A special court has allowed the civic body to go ahead with the legal process with regard to the demolition of a shopping mall allegedly belonging to the underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

Designated judge A P Bhangale delivered the order for demolition of Sara shopping centre located near the police commissionerate, on June 30.

The occupants of Sara shopping centre sought the special court's permission to move a civil court. However, the special court ruled that it had no jurisdiction to allow such a plea and that the aggrieved parties were free to approach the appropriate forum for relief.

Earlier, the court had restrained Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) from demolishing the shopping centre until a list of inventory of Dawood's property was filed by the court receiver. This directive has now been complied with.

BMC had urged for demolishing the structure on the ground that 60 per cent of the shopping centre was illegal.

With the court asking BMC to observe formalities for pulling down the shopping centre, Dawood's property faces imminent threat of demolition.

PTI