Mumbai:
Deceased flat owner had no legal heir; stranger stakes claim to property, saying he bought the Chembur flat for Rs 11 lakh.
Residents of the New Natraj Housing Society in Chembur were in for a surprise when a stranger walked into the society claiming ownership to a deceased owner's flat. The man, Rizwan Thakur, claimed that he had bought the house from the deceased, Ghanshyam Rangnekar, before his death in January this year.
But this claim might not stand because according to C Devraj, Secretary of the building, the flat in question actually belongs to Rangnekar's sister, Manik. "He showed us the documents that were signed by Ghanshyam Rangnekar and also claimed that he had paid the money in cash to him. However, the flat is on the name of Manik, Ghanshyam's sister, who passed away in the deluge of 2005. Now this man wants to take possession of the house and has threatened to commit suicide if we don't hand over the flat to him. It's a bizarre situation," said Devraj.
However, Thakur claims ignorance to the fact that Rangnekar did not own the flat. "I bought the house through a broker last year for Rs 11 lakh. Now I want possession of the flat since I have no other place to go," he said.
The matter is further complicated due to the lack of an apparent heir to the property. Ghanshyam and his two sisters were all unmarried. "I realise that Rangnekar does not own the flat, but I should be allowed to stay in it. If and when the legal heir comes in, I will vacate the flat," Thakur further added.
Incidentally, this is not the first time since Rangnekar's death that somebody has staked claim on the flat. "In April this year, there was a bunch of people who barged into the house and refused to come out unless the police intervened." said Sunil Kunte, treasurer of the society.
The society residents met with the local police to discuss the matter but they could not provide much help. However, senior police officers have assured them of assistance.
This is also not the first time that the society has stood firm behind Ghanshyam Rangnekar. His obliging neighbours in the society helped him in his last days by moving him out from Rajawadi hospital into a private one and even went so far as to hunt his relatives down to perform his last rites. And now they have this issue to contend with.
As a matter of fact, Rangnekar used to own a duplex flat in the society, but he sold it many years ago as he and his two sisters were living in another house at Shell Colony in Chembur. His sister's duplex flat in the society, which is estimated to be worth more than Rs 1 crore, is the subject of this controversy.
The society residents, who have grown anxious due to the constant attacks on the flat, have hired five security guards to keep watch. These men do not include the watchmen of the building and are being paid for by the society. "We are doing what we can to protect this property despite so many obstacles. All we want is for the flat to go to its legal heir and not the wrong hands," added Devraj.