Senior citizens are increasingly becoming soft targets for the builder-landlord nexus in the H (West) ward of the Bandra-Khar area.
A couple of days after veteran actress Sadhana Nayyar approached Sanjeev Dayal, commissioner of police, seeking protection from a builder, a senior citizen couple from Bandra Bandstand have complained of receiving life threats over their home, where they have been staying for over 40 years.
On August 31, Ashim Chakravarty, 73, and wife Heather, 64, returned from Spain after attending their daughter’s wedding. To their surprise, they found the lock of their fifth floor home in Bandstand Co-operative Housing Society changed. A new door was in place. All their belongings were stacked in 35 gunny bags in their balconies.
The Chakravartys have alleged that the new landlord, unknown to them, had posted four goons and a ferocious-looking dog in their home.
“The whole house was ransacked. The kitchen fridge was emptied and the crystals were smashed. Our locker was open and our bar, which had the choicest of alcohol, was also emptied. Luckily, we have now got possession of our flat,” said Ashim.
The Chakarvartys were told that the flat was sold to the new landlord for Rs5 lakh and the amount was deposited in Heather’s name.
“They have even forged our signatures showing that we have surrendered the flat along with furniture and fixtures. How can we sell a Rs3-crore flat for Rs5 lakh?” asked Heather.
“An FIR has been lodged at the Bandra police station and a panchnama has been done of the place. We will investigate the matter,” said Suresh Patil, inspector of police, Bandra.
The local citizen’s trust is helping the Chakrvartys take the matter to home minister RR Patil.
Comments