The Allahabad High Court on Thursday summoned the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) vice chairman for demolishing part of Sahara City on Wednesday night.

A division bench of the court comprising Justice Devi Prasad Singh and Justice Balkrishna Narain summoned the Vice Chairman Ram Bhadur on a petition of Sahara India Commercial Corporation Limited.

On behalf of Sahara, its counsel Virendra Bhatia contended that no further demolition should be taken and status quo maintained.

Another counsel for Sahara, Gaurav Bhatia said outside the court, that as of now they want an interim relief from the court and "contempt of the court matter would be taken at an appropriate time".

A team of Lucknow Development Authority and PWD demolished the outer walls and watch tower of Sahara City apparently on the directives of the Uttar Pradesh government.

The drive which started late in the evening to remove alleged encroachments by Sahara continued till late night in the presence of heavy police and PAC personnel.

The drive was supervised by LDA Vice-Chairman Ram Bhadur.

"We are planning to construct a 30-m-wide road alongside Sahara Sahar but walls illegally built by the Sahara group was creating hindrance to the project. We asked them to remove the wall themselves but they failed do so," an LDA official said.