The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has sealed a property belonging to the late J. Jayalalithaa due to unpaid property tax dues that have accumulated since 2017, now totaling ₹82.91 lakh after rebates.
The property, categorized as ‘Commercial’, has been rented by businessman Vijay Mallya, yet the tax obligations have remained unfulfilled. Initially, the total property tax dues reached ₹1.6 crore, but after waivers, this amount was reduced to approximately ₹83 lakh.
Despite repeated efforts to recover the dues, no payments have been made. The GHMC issued a ‘Red Notice’ as part of its enforcement actions against the outstanding amounts. The property will remain under GHMC custody until the dues are cleared.
In May 2020, the Madras High Court declared Jayalalithaa’s nephew and niece as her legal heirs, as she passed away without a will. This legal decision has implications for the management of her estate, including the handling of property tax obligations.
The GHMC’s One-Time Settlement scheme offers a significant 90% waiver on accumulated interest for property tax arrears, yet this incentive has not prompted the heirs to settle the outstanding dues.
As the situation stands, the heirs of Jayalalithaa are faced with a pressing financial obligation that remains unresolved. The GHMC’s actions reflect a broader trend of municipalities tightening enforcement on property tax collections, particularly in cases involving high-profile properties.
Observers are keenly watching how the heirs will respond to the mounting pressure from the GHMC and whether they will take advantage of the One-Time Settlement scheme to resolve the outstanding tax liabilities.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding any potential negotiations or plans from the heirs to address the tax dues, leaving the future of the property uncertain.
