A house belonging to the late J. Jayalalithaa has been sealed by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) due to unpaid property tax dues that have been accumulating since 2017. The total property tax dues had reached a staggering ₹1.6 crore before waivers, but after adjustments, the amount owed was reduced to approximately ₹83 lakh.
This property, categorized as ‘Commercial’, is currently rented out by businessman Vijay Mallya. Despite the property being registered under Jayalalithaa’s name in GHMC records, the heirs of Jayalalithaa were legally recognized as her successors in May 2020, following a declaration by the Madras High Court.
The GHMC issued a ‘Red Notice’ due to the non-payment of dues, which now amount to ₹82.91 lakh after rebates provided under the One-Time Settlement scheme. This scheme offers a significant 90% waiver on accumulated interest for property tax arrears, yet no payments have been made despite repeated efforts by the authorities to recover the outstanding dues.
The GHMC has stated that the property will remain under its custody until the outstanding dues are cleared. This situation underscores ongoing challenges in tax compliance and the management of properties belonging to high-profile individuals.
As the community watches closely, the resolution of this case may set a precedent for how similar situations are handled in the future. Observers are particularly keen on whether the heirs will take action to settle the dues or if further legal complications will arise.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the heirs’ plans to address the outstanding property tax, leaving many questions about the future of this significant asset.
