Landlord moves ACB against decorated 26/11 inspector regarding Sobo flat deal

Landlords of the upmarket Saraswati Niwas flat who have moved the court against decorated police inspector Hemant Bawdhankar and his wife, alleging that the couple have encroached upon their ancestral property, have also approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) asking them to look into the resources of the officer's income.

"Bawdhankar is an inspector, while his wife Anjali is a teacher. Despite having a meagre income, they acquired a flat with the prescribed value of Rs2.88 crore from Mulraj Kapadia, who was occupying the said ground floor flat as a tenant. We have therefore lodged a complaint with the ACB against Bawdhankar asking them to investigate acquisition of property disproportionate to the known sources of income," said Abha Singh, advocate for Reena Mhatre, one of the landlords of the property.

Explaining the alleged dispute, Atul Korgaonkar, one of the landlords said, "In August end last year, we learned that in our ancestral 1,425 square feet flat, which we had given on rent to Kapadia, was occupied by Bawdhankar family. Since then, Kapadia was nowhere to be seen. We were told by the family that the flat was sold by Kapadia to Anjali Bawdhankar. We have not been allowed to enter the property even by the occupants. We have moved court against Kapadia and Bawdhankar as they made the deal without our consent."

"The matter is in court and it is for the court to decide whether we are at fault or not," said KZ Nagamia, advocate for Anjali Bawdhankar.

"If the ACB approaches us, we will certainly tell them our side. The property matter is in the court and it would not be proper for me to comment on it," said inspector Hemant Bawdhankar, who was instrumental in gunning down Pakistani terrorist Mohammad Ismail, one of the main gunmen in the 26/11 case in 2008.