Thane Mayor Naresh Mhaske has claimed that he had received a call from a Union minister asking him to save unauthorised constructions from the ongoing drive by the municipal corporation. This revelation by Mhaske at the general body meeting of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) caused a flutter on September 20.

Refusing to reveal the name of the Union minister, Mhaske said the drive against illegal hawkers and unauthorised constructions will continue. "A Union minister had called for saving the unauthorised constructions from the ongoing drive," Mhaske told the meeting.