11 storey building construction in progress on the land belonging to Gandhi family in Mumbai

Prime Land allotted to M/s Associated Journals, the holding company of the Congress Mouthpiece the National Herald and Qaumi Ekta newspapers was granted a waiver of interest charges to a tune of Rs 3.75 crores accrued due to delayed payment for land allotment. The company is now currently contracting an 11 storeyed building at the land. This information was provided to RTI activist Anil Galgali. This company belongs to the Gandhi family and the interest was waived during the tenure of Adarsh fame CM Ashok Chavan causing loss to the exchequer. RTI activist Anil Galgali had sought information from the Municipal corporations Building proposal dept about the permissions granted to M/s Associate Journals for carrying out construction on the land. It was informed that the company was issued commencement certificate on 14/06/2013 by the MCGM and since the land came under the funnel of the Airport Authority the NOC for the same was granted on 05/02/2014. The building will be of 11 storeys and will be having minimum 135 car parking space, it also has 14 office space in the ground to the 11 floor, but there is no earmarking for Newspaper offices, Library and Research center. Inspite of corresponding with the state government on numerous occasions by Anil Galgali, no actions have been taken. Anil Galgali in a letter addressed to CM Devendra Fadnavis has demanded that the construction activity should be immediately stopped and the land allotment be immediately scrapped and possession be taken by the govt and since the land is originally reserved for the purpose of Hostel for Backward classes, an hostel for the Backward class be constructed on the land. 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 2.79 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 2.79 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 Then Mr Clean CM not take any action after reminder letter send by Galgali on dated 12.12.2013 . 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 Chief Secretary Swadhin Kshatriya, Ex Bmc Commissioner Jairaj Phatak, Dr Avinash Dhakane, Top Police OfficerHimanshu Roy, Information Commissioner Ajit Jain, Hement Kotikar, Kishor Gajbeye, Milind Shambarkar, former Collector Sangitrao family members including his brother & daughter have flat in Saiprasad.