Despite repeated failure by the authorities to auction benami properties linked to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, a restaurant, said to be owned by him and seized by the CBI after the 1993 Mumbai serial bombings, will be put under the hammer by a government auctioneer on December 9.
The property admeasuring 45.16 sq metres in Pakmodia Street, Bhendi Bazaar, will be one of the seven properties that will be auctioned by the competent authority and administrator under the Smuggling and Foreign Exchange Manipulators Act of 1976 and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Prevention) Act. Originally known as Hotel Rounaq Afroz, the eatery was renamed Delhi Zaika, and remains shut for business.
This property will be part of the auction at Hotel Diplomat on December 9 where six other properties including 13 gunthas of agricultural land in Kadaya village in Nani Daman in Gujarat, and a Hyundai Accent sedan will also be available for sale, according to the notice on the website of government auctioneer, Ashvin & Co. Property inspection Those interested in bidding for Delhi Zaika will be allowed to inspect the properties on December 3 and will have to pay Earnest Money Deposit of Rs 30 lakh through a demand draft. The reserve price for the property is Rs 1.18 crore. Along with the deposit, the bidders will also have to deposit a demand draft of Rs 15,000 as caution money, by December 8.ss
This is not the first time that a benami property of Dawood Ibrahim will be auctioned. Income Tax authorities have earlier put 11 properties on auction four times since the 1993 bombings but with little success. HIs other properties which have been put on auction in the past but remain unsold include a 52,872 sq ft shopping arcade at Dewan Centre in Jogeshwari, a 58,631 sq ft property Bombay Garage at Malabar Hill, the flat at Gordon Hall Apartments in Nagpada, Garib Nawaz Guest house at Nagpada, Damarwala Building at Pakmodia Street, an industrial unit at Temkar Street , and four floors of Rajagira Mansion at Mandvi.
