Nagpur: The tainted doctor couple of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), Dr Pravin and Dr Sheelu Gantawar are back in the headlines as PNB Housing Finance Ltd seized their property to recover dues of Rs 10.50 crore, according to reports in local media.
The reports said the said property at Baidyanath Square is spread over 10,500 sq.ft. and the same was taken in possession on Friday by the bank’s housing finance unit. However, before that, high drama was witnessed as the Gantawar couple tried to create third party interest in a bid to stall acquisition. The Gantawar couple had availed of a commercial loan a few years ago through which they acquired the prime land parcel opposite Ashirwad Talkies on Ghat Road. The couple had grand plans to commercially exploit and build a multi-storeyed building along with a branch of their Columbia Hospital (one unit is in upscale Dhantoli locality).
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However, the plans of the medico couple could not materialise. For the first year, they did repay the loan and later defaulted as the couple faced trouble during COVID-19 period. The two are in employment of NMC as medicos, and recently, Dr Pravin was suspended for unauthorised leave from duty.
According to officials of the lending agency, the loan was declared Non-Performing Asset (NPA) on June 17, 2019, as the Gantawar couple defaulted on repayment schedule. Prior to that, notices were issued to the medicos but they failed to ensure compliance. From that time proceedings were on before Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) where Gantawars tried to secure a stay on seizure proceedings. But the couple’s attempt failed to succeed. The agency had given the task to M/s Guardian Enforcement Inc to take possession of the prime property that is having 700 sq.ft construction. Earlier, a weigh bridge instrument was installed at the said plot.
On Friday, the staff of the enforcement agency along with Suryakant Patil, Tehsildar, reached the spot to take possession of the commercial plot. However the third party, one Pawan Pawar, claimed right to the said land parcel but could not furnish documents to the claim. Pawar as per information also claimed to have got stay on PNB’s action from Small Causes Court and when Patil sought a copy of the order the former could not produce the same. As a last ditch attempt, Pawar tried to stop attachment of the land parcel claiming that the patient is undergoing treatment. One person was inside the building with saline and agency officials said if the patient is serious he needs to be shifted to hospital. Also they questioned the absence of doctors on the premises and finally brushed aside the objection and took possession of the land parcel.
Tehsildar also said when Imambada police had served notice to Gantawar and informed them about impending action they had not responded nor given any statement. So any objection at this late stage has no legal value. Finally in the presence of police a seal was put on the building gate and also on the entrance gate where a board informing about Columbia Heights is put up.
