GHMC seizes Jayalalithaa's Hyd house

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) briefly seized a residential property belonging to the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in Hyderabad due to outstanding property tax dues. The G+4 building located in Srinagar Colony was taken over on Monday after the caretakers allegedly neglected multiple notices regarding tax arrears dating back to 2017.

GHMC officials confirmed that despite repeated attempts to contact the caretakers and settle the dues, no response was received, leading to the seizure in accordance with the rules. The property tax amounting to over Rs 82 lakh, after a 90 percent interest waiver offered by GHMC, stands unpaid.

However, the caretakers have applied for vacancy remission, citing the building's unoccupied status since Jayalalithaa's passing in 2016, and this request has been approved. Although the building is registered in Jayalalithaa's name, the ownership will be transferred upon submission of the required proof by the claimants. Legal proceedings related to the property's inheritance are currently underway. Despite being a residential property, it has been categorized as commercial due to its previous rental to a company owned by businessman Vijay Mallya. -- PTI