Offices leased to political parties have o/s rent in crores

Mumbai, Oct 3 (UNI) The Bombay High Court was told today that office premises leased to political parties had outstanding rent running into crores of rupees by Advocate R N Kachve, counsel for petitioner - Krantikari Jaihind Sena.

A division bench comprising justices F I Rebeillo and Anoop Mohta directed the state government to file a reply indicating the state of affairs in this matter within two weeks.

According to a release issued here the Congress Party owes outstanding amount of almost Rs 3.5 crore, which is the highest while Janata Dal owes more than Rs 21 lakh. The Communist Party, BJP, Shiv Sena, Bahujan Samaj Party, NCP and many others also figured on the petitioner's list.

The petitioner alleged that the outstanding rent had not been recovered due to corruption and prayed to the court to initiate proceedings for recovery of the same.

The petitioner had applied for an office to the Public Administration Department but had been denied the same without any reason and so they prayed to the court for allotment of an office premise as well.

The case will come up for further hearing on October 17.

UNI ARM MJ AW MS VV1959