The owners’ association of Malaysian Township (Raintree Park) at Kukatpally, Hyderabad, has decided to approach the courts following a property attachment notice issued by the income-tax department to the Swarnandhra IJMII Integrated Township Construction Company, which built the township, for failing to pay Rs 53.68 crore in income-tax. The income-tax notice prohibits the managing director and directors of Swarnandhra IJMII from transferring the property.
Residents of the township allege that Swarnan-dhra IJMII, along with some builders, is trying to claim five acres of land in the township meant for civic amenities to construct a commercial complex, which is against the rules. The work has already started. V.V. Rao, member of the owner’s association, said that Swarnandhra IJMII and the Housing Board had sold 34.71 acres of land to 2,000 apartment members, but failed to pay Rs 53.68 crore in income-tax. The whole property sold to the buyers was in undivided shares of the existing property.
Mr Rao said: “Some government authorities are helping private builders to claim vacant land to construct a shopping complex, which actually belongs to the residents of the township. Because the builder failed to pay the income tax, we owners have to pay Rs 2.6 lakh each to clear the amount.” When contacted by this correspondent, the officials at Swarnandhra IJMII’s office in Hyderabad refused to respond to the allegations.