The Centre has taken the initiative to auction four plots of land alleged to be 'benami' farmlands belonging to the elusive mafia figure Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district. These plots, totaling 21,275 square meters, are situated in Mumbake village, Khed, Dawood's birthplace.
Scheduled for e-auction on January 5, 2024, the properties are being auctioned under several laws, including the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulator (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976, the NDPS Act, 1985, and the Prohibition of Benami Property Transaction Act, 1998. The government has set a reserve price of approximately Rs 19 lakh for the agricultural lands, which are currently abandoned and dilapidated.
The auction conditions outline that the properties will be sold on an 'as is where is' basis, with the responsibility for transferring and registering the properties falling on the successful bidder. Prospective bidders are advised to conduct independent inquiries into encumbrances, titles, and other relevant aspects.
Any pending dues or taxes applicable to the properties will be the responsibility of the buyer. The government disclaims any liability for third-party claims or rights over these properties. Locals, upon hearing about the proposed auction, have been inspecting the properties, noting their deserted state and overgrowth.
This marks the second major auction of properties linked to the Kaskar family in the past four years. Previously, in November 2020, Dawood's childhood home and other properties were auctioned, while in November 2017, prime properties in south Mumbai were sold. Dawood Ibrahim, wanted in India for various crimes, including the 1993 Mumbai bombings, is currently believed to be in Karachi. Recent reports suggesting his illness were refuted by D-Company members as 'fake,' asserting that Dawood is in good health.
(With Agency Inputs)
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