Activists under police custody for Save Aarey protest outside Bachchan’s house

Activists protesting outside Amitabh Bachchan’s bungalow Jalsa in Juhu, Mumbai, were taken under custody by the Mumbai police on Thursday, 19 September.

A group of college students and members of NGO Watchdog Foundation had gathered outside the actor’s residence holding banners and placards in protest of his support of the proposed felling of over 2,600 trees in Aarey Colony to make way for the Mumbai Metro Project.

A video of officers hauling students into a police van has been doing the rounds on social media.

https://twitter.com/ashoksoft/status/1174619129589841922?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1174619129589841922&ref_url=https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/celebrities/activists-detained-for-protesting-outside-amitabh-bachchan-house-aarey-mumbai-metro

Earlier on 17 September, Amitabh Bachchan tweeted “Friend of mine had a medical emergency, decided to take metro instead of his car... came back very impressed.. said was faster, convenient and most efficient.. Solution for Pollution... Grow more trees.. I did in my garden.. have you?”

https://twitter.com/SrBachchan/status/1173830885549850624

Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited's (MMRCL) Managing Director Ashwini Bhide also tweeted thanking him for his support for the project.

https://twitter.com/zoru75/status/1174208413921959936

However, Bachchan’s tweet received a lot of negative response from residents, including environmental activist Zoru Bhathena, who has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court against the civic body's approval given for felling of the trees and asked the Bollywood star to visit Aarey to understand the ground reality.