Hyderabad Property of Late CM Jayalalithaa Temporarily Sealed Over Tax Dues
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on Monday took the significant step of sealing a commercial property in the upscale Srinagar Colony that belonged to the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. The action was initiated due to substantial long-pending property tax arrears that had accumulated over several years. However, in a swift turn of events, the premises were unsealed within a day after the legal heirs of the former chief minister provided assurances to the civic authorities that the outstanding dues would be settled promptly.
Multiple Notices Ignored Before Sealing Action
GHMC officials confirmed that the civic body had issued multiple notices regarding the unpaid taxes, but received no response from the concerned parties. With no communication forthcoming, officials proceeded to seal the Ground+4 structure, which includes a penthouse. The building, spread across more than 500 square yards in one of Hyderabad's prime localities, has an estimated land value of approximately Rs 10 crore.
Substantial Tax Arrears and Settlement Scheme
The commercial property had accumulated dues exceeding Rs 1.5 crore, with annual property tax assessed at Rs 7.2 lakh. Authorities revealed that arrears had been building since the financial year 2016–17, following Jayalalithaa's demise in December 2016. Under the ongoing one-time settlement (OTS) scheme—which offers a substantial 90 per cent waiver on interest—the payable amount as of March 31 has been significantly reduced to approximately Rs 82 lakh.
Officials noted that a three-year tax remission had been granted earlier due to the property remaining unoccupied for an extended period. The building, known as UB House, has remained largely vacant for several years, with only a security guard stationed on-site. It had previously been leased to liquor baron Vijay Mallya before becoming vacant after his departure from the country in 2016.
Legal Heirs Intervene After Sealing
Following the sealing action, the legal heirs of Jayalalithaa submitted a formal representation to GHMC authorities. Officials explained that notices had initially been served to a supervisor overseeing the property, as direct contact with the legal representatives was not possible at the time. After the heirs approached GHMC and conveyed that payment would be made via NEFT transfer, authorities promptly unsealed the premises.
Property Among Declared Assets
The Srinagar Colony building was one of four assets declared by Jayalalithaa before the Madras High Court in a case. In May 2020, the Madras High Court recognized Jayalalithaa's nephew J Deepak and niece J Deepa as her Class II legal heirs, affirming their entitlement to inherit her assets, including this Hyderabad property.
The incident highlights the ongoing management of properties belonging to prominent political figures and the enforcement of civic regulations regardless of the property owner's status. GHMC's action demonstrates the civic body's commitment to property tax collection, while the quick resolution shows the responsiveness of the legal heirs in addressing the outstanding obligations.
