Amid allegations that the Congress party gave an interest-free loan to Associated Journals Ltd with an eye on the company’s real estate assets, it now emerges that the company that publishes National Herald and Quami Awaz was allotted a prime plot of land by the government of Maharashtra in suburban Mumbai, ostensibly for a press and a Nehru memorial library, neither of which was built. The interest on the amount turned out to a massive Rs 3.75 crores which in 2001 was waived off by then Revenue Minister Ashok Chavan. Its revels by RTI Activists Anil Galgali.
Government documents procured from RTI activist Anil Galgali show that the land was allotted to M/s Associated Journal in 1983 for Rs 1.31 crore in Bandra. However they did not observe one of the key conditions of the lease by commencing construction in the plot within two years of it being allotted. More over it did not even pay up the entire principal amount in one go. The interest on the amount turned out to a massive Rs 3.75 crores which in 2001 was waived off by then Revenue Minister Ashok Chavan. The plot was given for daily news publication, a Nehru library and a research centre in 1983 by Government but it is still as it. This plot before handover to M/s Associated Journal's, to build a hostel for students (Scheduled Caste) for which it was originally reserved. Not only did Associated Journals not construct the press building and library, but it also managed to obtain repeated extensions from the state government while continuing to hold on to the 30-year lease, which now expires 22/12/2014. After Anil Galgali RTI and Complaint made to Government now Company had started construction work. “Will you as chief minister be able to initiate proceedings for the state government to reclaim land that is now under the control of Rahul Gandhi? There is a question about this,” Galgali has said in his letter dated 2.11.2012. He goes on to say that the market value of the land is now about Rs 250 crore. But CM not take any action after reminder letter send by Galgali on dated 12.12.2013 .
# New Adarsh 'Saiprasad'
While a large part of the plot remains vacant after being allotted in 1983, one portion was parcelled off in 2000 to a housing society (Saiprasad) floated by Congressman Rajiv Chavan in which former Mumbai Congress chief Kripashankar Singh is a member. When a part of the plot was allotted to Sai Prasad, Singh was guardian minister for the Mumbai suburban region.
This land, facing the Western Express Highway and a stone’s throw away from Bandra station, is now home to Sai Prasad Housing Society, home to Singh, Chavan and a bunch of top bureaucrats some of who already owned other properties in the city and some others who are under the scanner in the Adarsh scam. Top Most bureaucrats like Swadhin Kshatriya, Jairaj Phatak, Dr Avinash Dhakane, Himanshu Roy,Hement Kotikar, Ajit Jain, Kishor Gajbeye, Milind Shambarkar, former Collector Sangitrao family members including his brother & daughter have flat in Saiprasad.
Activist Anil Galgali, who used the Right to Information Act to obtain details about the plot has now written to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan demanding that Associated Journal Ltd’s land be taken back by the government or Rs 3.75 cr should not waive. The government should take the land back and build a hostel for students (Scheduled Caste) for which it was originally reserved,” said Galgali.
Government documents procured from RTI activist Anil Galgali show that the land was allotted to M/s Associated Journal in 1983 for Rs 1.31 crore in Bandra. However they did not observe one of the key conditions of the lease by commencing construction in the plot within two years of it being allotted. More over it did not even pay up the entire principal amount in one go. The interest on the amount turned out to a massive Rs 3.75 crores which in 2001 was waived off by then Revenue Minister Ashok Chavan. The plot was given for daily news publication, a Nehru library and a research centre in 1983 by Government but it is still as it. This plot before handover to M/s Associated Journal's, to build a hostel for students (Scheduled Caste) for which it was originally reserved. Not only did Associated Journals not construct the press building and library, but it also managed to obtain repeated extensions from the state government while continuing to hold on to the 30-year lease, which now expires 22/12/2014. After Anil Galgali RTI and Complaint made to Government now Company had started construction work. “Will you as chief minister be able to initiate proceedings for the state government to reclaim land that is now under the control of Rahul Gandhi? There is a question about this,” Galgali has said in his letter dated 2.11.2012. He goes on to say that the market value of the land is now about Rs 250 crore. But CM not take any action after reminder letter send by Galgali on dated 12.12.2013 .
# New Adarsh 'Saiprasad'
While a large part of the plot remains vacant after being allotted in 1983, one portion was parcelled off in 2000 to a housing society (Saiprasad) floated by Congressman Rajiv Chavan in which former Mumbai Congress chief Kripashankar Singh is a member. When a part of the plot was allotted to Sai Prasad, Singh was guardian minister for the Mumbai suburban region.
This land, facing the Western Express Highway and a stone’s throw away from Bandra station, is now home to Sai Prasad Housing Society, home to Singh, Chavan and a bunch of top bureaucrats some of who already owned other properties in the city and some others who are under the scanner in the Adarsh scam. Top Most bureaucrats like Swadhin Kshatriya, Jairaj Phatak, Dr Avinash Dhakane, Himanshu Roy,Hement Kotikar, Ajit Jain, Kishor Gajbeye, Milind Shambarkar, former Collector Sangitrao family members including his brother & daughter have flat in Saiprasad.
Activist Anil Galgali, who used the Right to Information Act to obtain details about the plot has now written to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan demanding that Associated Journal Ltd’s land be taken back by the government or Rs 3.75 cr should not waive. The government should take the land back and build a hostel for students (Scheduled Caste) for which it was originally reserved,” said Galgali.
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