Centre likely to sell, lease out Rs 500-crore worth ‘enemy properties’ in Bengaluru city

CEPI became the owner of such properties under the Enemy Property Act 1968, following the Indo-China and Indo-Pak wars of 1962 and 1965 respectively. There are over 9,000 enemy properties worth around Rs 1 lakh crore across India.

“These properties belong to those who migrated either to Pakistan and China following the wars. The properties are already in the possession of CEPI and they may either sell or lease it to the state government for public utilisation,” said an official.

Dayananda K A, Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru Urban district, told The Indian Express that the CEPI officials from Mumbai regional office had come down to the city for assessment of these properties. “We were told that the state government can submit a proposal for a long-term lease or else they would auction it,” the officer said.

In Bengaluru, the six enemy properties are located on Raj Bhavan Road, Vittal Mallya Road and Victoria Road. There were four owners for the property and three of them migrated to Pakistan and one to China. The total land area is nearly 14,000 square meters, which means 1.5 lakh square feet in the heart of Bengaluru city.

The enemy property located on Raj Bhavan Road is spread over 1.23 lakh square feet and belonged to one person but is now in the possession of CEPI.