Seized benami property may house govt offices

The government is working on a plan to turn seized benami property into offices or let them out for residential purpose, a move officials said was part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s crackdown on black money and corruption.

Union housing and urban poverty alleviation secretary Nandita Chatterjee met revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia last month to discuss ways to monetise seized properties, especially for public purpose.

The discussions centred around how such properties could be used for providing rental housing and hostels for working men and women, officials told HT.

Since Parliament’s approval of the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Bill last year, the Modi-led NDA government has launched an all-out war on properties acquired in the name of someone else.

Such deals are believed to form a large chunk of the country’s black money.

In one of his weekly radio address, Mann Ki Baat, last year, Modi said the government will soon implement the benami transaction law to target other forms of illegally accumulated wealth.

“A roadmap will be drawn depending on the need and location of the (seized) place. Monetisation of these assets cannot have a one-size-fits-all formula,” a senior finance ministry official said.

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circles may be abuzz with news of Shivpal Yadav announcing the formation of an all-India secular front but in Lucknow, Mulayam Singh is visibly relaxed and says he’s sure his party will remain one.

In an interview with HT, Mulayam says Shivpal didn’t talk to him about the front but he will always stand by his brother. At the same time, he admitted

Shivpal was hurt. “I don’t know why

Akhilesh doesn’t like him. After all, he is his uncle,” he said. ››P8