Special Correspondent
Pune: Sinhgad Technical Institute, which holds a total of 128 properties within the city limits, is facing significant legal action due to outstanding property tax dues amounting to ₹345 crore. Despite the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) taking action against defaulters, the court has ordered that no coercive measures be taken against most of the institute’s properties except those located in Kondhwa Bk., Ambegaon Bk., and Erandwane.
The PMC’s Property Tax Department seized one of the institute’s properties in Erandwane on December 6, as the institute had unpaid dues of ₹47 crore 43 lakh 18 thousand 303 rupees. This action was carried out under Rule 42 of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, 1949. The court had previously instructed the institute to pay ₹12 crore immediately, but the payment was not made. As a result, a petition for contempt of court was filed against Sinhgad Technical Institute.
While this petition is pending, the court’s directives were followed, and the property tax department sealed the institute’s properties in Kondhwa Bk. and Wadgaon Bk., after receiving legal advice from the municipal corporation’s lawyers.
The PMC’s Property Tax Department has been running a major campaign to collect property tax, which is one of the primary sources of revenue for the corporation. As part of this effort, properties belonging to defaulters are being confiscated following proper notices. However, the campaign has faced criticism, with accusations that smaller establishments and defaulters are being targeted more aggressively, while large institutions with hundreds of crores in dues are escaping action. A political party raised concerns over the unequal treatment, but the PMC clarified that legal procedures were delaying action.
According to Madhav Jagtap, the head of the PMC’s Property Tax Department, the Sinhgad Institute’s properties were sealed following the court’s order and legal guidance. The department is actively working to recover outstanding dues from property holders, with a focus on the top defaulters in the city.
In addition to Sinhgad Technical Institute, Pune has a total of 438 government properties with an outstanding tax of ₹93.24 crore. The city’s top 100 property tax defaulters owe a combined ₹334.10 crore. Among the highest defaulters is Santosh Katewal from Fursungi, who owes ₹18.44 crore. The second-highest defaulter is Yogesh Estate NV from Hadpar, with ₹17.16 crore in dues. Third place goes to Ganesh More from Uruli Devachi, with a debt of ₹16.99 crore.
The Property Tax Department is committed to recovering the outstanding amounts from the top defaulters and has stated that properties with unpaid dues will be confiscated to ensure payment.
