SOLAN: The claim lay by Salman Rushdie on the Anees Villa’ here has taken an interesting tum with the municipal authorities having failed to trace the papers pertaining to the bungalow in its record.
The authorities have been trying to lay their hands on the papers ever Since Rushdie served a notice on the Himachal Pradesh government claiming the bungalow as his property.
Sources say the record concerning payment of tax to the local municipality is also not traceable. It is also interesting to note that number of the house has been changed to 376 from 1085. It is being debated as to how and why the number of the property has been altered. The tastefully laid bungalow has been built of “Kalka Stone.” It has six rooms, three bathrooms. The rooms are inter-connected except the sitting room which has a separate entrance from the tiny porch.
The lay-out of the building is of traditional Muslim architecture.
Rushdie has claimed that the property was gifted to him by his father, Mr. Ances Ahmed, on July 4, 1969.
The authorities fear that the Rushdie case might open a Pandora’s box concerning many other old houses in the locality, One or two other houses in locality have remained unoccupied for the past many years.
It is alleged that a well-knit gang of some property dealers is operating here in league with officials of certain government departments to usurp the disputed properties which could fetch millions of rupees.
Officials say the property was shown as an evacuee property in the revenue records of 1953-54. However, it was restored to Anees Ahmed during the settlement of 1969.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 12, 1994
