Mhada lottery winner gives up costliest ₹5.8 cr flat over Vaastu

Mumbai:

The winner of the costliest flat in Mhada’s history of lottery sales has returned a flat worth Rs 5.8 crore to the housing board. Vinod Shirke, a Shiv Sena shakha pramukh from Agripada, said he found the Vaastu (layout) faulty. But a society member said two brothers who owned the house were fighting a legal battle. “One of them is saying the apartment was sold to Mhada without his knowledge,” a committee member said.


Shirke, a small-time entrepreneur, had struck gold when he won two 2 BHK apartments in Dhavalgiri Building, Nana Chowk, at the December 2018 lottery. These were among the costliest flats sold by the agency. One house on the fifth floor was priced Rs 5.8 crore and the other on the third floor Rs 4.99 crore. Another flat in Dhavalgiri was sold for Rs 5.1 crore to another buyer in the lottery.

“I got both my new houses checked my childhood friend, Tejas Talaskar, an astrologer. He advised me to surrender both as he found the Vaastu flawed. I am keeping the smaller one as the basic elements of sun, moon, doors and windows are satisfactory. The house should be liveable with few modifications,” Shirke said.

The Rs 4.99 crore house that Shirke holds is also under litigation as the society has questioned Mhada’s ownership over all three flats. It accused the board of not having paid maintenance dues amounting to Rs 75 lakh.

“Mhada furnished some documents in court but the crucial registration papers were missing. Moreover, they have yet to pay us the outstanding maintenance dues since October 2013, when they claim to have acquired the flats. It amounts to Rs 75-80 lakh. Until they fulfill both conditions, we will not transfer the flats to the new buyer,” said a managing committee member.

Shirke said his fears over litigation had been “assuaged” by senior Mhada officials Madhu Chavan and Vinod Ghosalkar. “They said it is not for me to worry. The board is a trusted agency and will handle the matter,” Shirke said.

The housing board said it will provide proof of ownership and pay the society dues in court. The flat relinquished by Shirke will be offered to the next waitlisted candidate in the lottery.