Mumbai: Despite threats, journalist-activist S Balakrishnan on Wednesday won the bid to take over ‘Delhi Zaika’ at Pakmodia Street, a hotel once owned by Dawood Ibrahim, the Karachi-based underworld don, here after placing highest bid of Rs 4.28 cr.
Balakrishnan, who is the founder of Desh Seva Samiti—an NGO—thus got rights over the 500-sq feet property in South Mumbai.
The auction took place under the Smuggling and Foreign Exchange Manipulators Act, 1976 and Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (Prevention) Act, 1985, at the Diplomat Hotel in Colaba.
“In the auction, the property has gone in favour of Desh Seva Samiti….it’s a huge amount to be paid….with the support of patriotic people, this is not big,” he said adding for them the cost would be more as they are so far not aware of arrears of property tax, electricity bill and water charges.
The properties include ‘Delhi Zaika’, previously known as Hotel Raunak Afroz, a green-coloured car (MH-04-AX-3676) and an around 350 sq-feet room in Mahavir Building in Matunga. Besides, four small plots in Daman, a Union Territory, also went under the hammer. The car with a reserve price of around Rs 15,000, was acquired by All India Hindu Mahasabha president Swami Chakrapani.
