Residents have alleged that the renovation work on the ground floor was the cause of the building’s collapse. Pic/Nimesh Dave

Renovation work on the ground floor of the Siddhi Sai building in Ghatkopar - which residents have alleged was the cause for its collapse - was going on illegally, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on Wednesday. The floor is owned by local Shiv Sena leader Sunil Shitap, who did not have any permission from the civic department for carrying out the work.