Mumbai, November 9, 2025 – A drone sighting near the Mumbai residence of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray sparked a flurry of concerns regarding privacy and security protocols on Sunday. Thackeray, who resides with his parents, including party chief Uddhav Thackeray, at 'Matoshree' in Bandra's Kalanagar, voiced his apprehension on social media, describing the drone's actions as "peeping" into his home.
Thackeray questioned why residents were not informed beforehand and why the survey appeared to target residential properties. He also inquired whether his residence was specifically being targeted for surveillance. "A drone was caught peeping into our residence this morning, and when the media learnt about it, the @MMRDAOfficial is saying it was a survey being done for BKC with police permission," Thackeray stated on X (formerly Twitter). He further questioned, "What survey allows you to peep inside homes and fly out quickly when spotted? Why weren't residents informed? Is MMRDA only doing surveillance of our house?".
In response to the concerns raised, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) issued a clarification stating that the drone activity was part of a survey being conducted for the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) area, specifically for the proposed pod taxi service. The MMRDA maintained that the survey had received prior approval from the Mumbai Police. The purpose of the drone survey was to facilitate a visual study of the corridor for the pod taxi alignment from Kurla to Bandra via BKC. The MMRDA added that all necessary permissions were obtained on behalf of the concessionaire from the police department, and every instruction issued by them was strictly adhered to. They also stated that the background verification of the certified drone operator had been submitted to the authorities.
Despite the MMRDA's explanation, Thackeray remained critical, questioning the lack of transparency and the failure to notify residents in advance. He also directed criticism towards the MMRDA's broader performance, referencing the Atal Setu project (Mumbai Trans Harbour Link) as an example of "corruption" and administrative mismanagement. "The MMRDA should get on the ground and focus on the shams of its work, such as the MTHL (Atal Setu), which stands as an example of its corruption," he said.
The incident has ignited a debate regarding the increasing use of drones for civic and developmental projects in densely populated urban areas. It has also highlighted the need for greater transparency, clearer privacy regulations, and improved communication with residents when such activities are conducted. Questions remain about the extent to which drone surveys can intrude on personal privacy, especially when they involve residential properties, and what measures can be taken to prevent such intrusions.
