Families, PG inmates pushed to streets after bank staff try to seize apartment

BENGALURU: Several families and women residents of a paying guest accommodation at Shivanahalli on Chord Road were literally pushed to the streets on Thursday by bank officials who had come to seize the property.

Dumbstruck residents were forced out with their belongings and the houses locked by the bank officials following a court order to seize the properties over non-repayment of loan. Many were living in rented accommodations while some had even taken the houses on lease. There are about 29 housing units in the building and about 50 women, including students, are also living in the paying guest accommodation.

The bank’s lawyer entered the houses and PG accommodations and got the occupants to move out with their belongings.

It is said that one Shivanna of Chikkanayakanahalli had taken a loan of Rs 15 crore from Canara Bank in 2016 and had not paid the loans, which had accumulated to Rs 29 crore. The Aishwarya Apartment in Shivanahalli had been furnished as a collateral against the loan and based on a court order, the bank officials landed at the apartment and forced the tenants, numbering over 100, out of the houses.

Tenants of Aishwarya Apartment got into an argument with the bank officials.

After the property owners went to the high court later in the day, the bank officials opened the locks and returned. The property owners claimed that the high court will hear their plea against attachment of the property on Friday.