Varun Singh finds that the 8 flats up for auction are all connected to the one owned by Rasila Mehta, making it difficult for prospective bidders
Varun Singh finds that the 8 flats up for auction are all connected to the one owned by Rasila Mehta, making it difficult for prospective bidders
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Harshad Mehta's mother Rasila (72) holds the key to the auction of his eight interconnected flats in Madhuli building, Worli. But the Mehta family's ninth flat (no 31) on the third floor is in Rasila's name and connects all the remaining flats. And since flat no 31 isn't up for auction tomorrow, it's going to be difficult for prospective buyers to enjoy the lovely view of the Worli Seaface.
Nine flats
The Mehta family occupies a total of nine flats on the third and fourth floor of the 14-storeyed building. In the early nineties, the family redesigned the flats to accommodate their big joint family, which includes Rasila and the families of her four sons.
Mehta's wife Jyoti and her children stay on the fourth floor with the families of Ashwin Mehta and Dr Hitesh Mehta. Sudhir Mehta and his family stay on the third floor with Rasila.
Six of the interconnected flats are on the third floor 31, 32A, 32B, 33, 34A and 34B. Flat no 31 is in the centre. In the copy of the auction notice (available with MiD DAY) by the custodian, it is clearly mentioned that, "Flat no 32A and 32B on third floor are amalgamated along with flat no 31, which belongs to Rasila Mehta and is not for sale in the present offer.
Therefore, in case there is no free access to the units as per present plan/status, and access will be provided as per orders of Supreme Court on confirmation of sale or prior thereto." So, unless Rasila Mehta's attached flat no 31 comes for auction, it won't be possible for the buyer to access all the remaining five flats on the third floor.
Bidding problems
Apart from this, flat no 31 also connects the third floor to fourth with a staircase. So, to make this complicated affair a little easier for the buyer, the court has allowed that the three flats on the fourth floor u2014 44A, 44B and 45 can be bought as one unit. The buyer can also bid for all the eight flats as a single unit or even the five flats on the third floor together.
The winner of the bid for the third floor flats will get two separate flats. With three on the left side and the remaining two on the right side, even the terrace facing the sea will have to be divided, as Rasila's flat occupies a considerable part of it.
NOC from the society
The society members of Madhuli Co-op Housing Society have no objections with anyone occupying the flats, not even the possibility of the Mehtas getting the huge flat back. Viren Shah, treasurer of Madhuli (pictured), said, "We are only concerned about the pending dues of around Rs 2 crore from the Mehtas." According to brokers, the flats will cost around Rs 45 crore at Rs 30,000 per sq ft, the current market rate.
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