An under-construction building in the city's plush area of Bandra has been sealed for nearly a month now by the Government of India because it is 'enemy property'. The Indian developer of the property told The Hindu on Wednesday that they had purchased the property legally, and they had done nothing wrong.
"It is good that an inquiry has been ordered in the matter. We are happy. Truth must come out. But the inquiry must be done properly. If the authorities are wrong (about the allegation of 'enemy property'), they should come and apologise to us," Jayesh Mistry of Jay constructions, told The Hindu .
Jay constructions has dragged the authorities to Bombay High Court after they sealed the property on May 16 this year. The lawyer representing Jay constructions refused to comment on the matter on the grounds that it was sub-judice.
The matter is to come up for hearing this week.
The plot in question lies on Carter Road of Bandra, ajdacent to the high-end La Mer society. The society is well-known as it housed superstar cricketer Sachin Tendulkar over two years ago.
The Office of Custodian of Enemy Property for India, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has sealed the property. A notice to that effect was found pasted on the compound of the half-constructed building. The watchman who guarded the property told The Hindu that construction on the site was halted six to seven months ago.
"I joined as a watchman here seven months ago. Since the time the property is sealed, no one comes here. I don't know the owner of this place or the meaning of the notice pasted here," he said.
According to media reports, the property was brought by Jay developers at a very cheap rate in 1980. The authorities claim that the land was owned by a person who later migrated to Pakistan. Authorities suspect that the land deal was done in connivance with the former officials of Custodian of Enemy Property.
