Gokhale Constructions backs out of Jain Trust property deal after controversy

Gokhale Constructions, the company at the centre of the Jain hostel controversy, said on Sunday that it is backing out of the deal after controversy over the past few days. The 3.5 acre property in Model Colony belonging to Seth Hirachand Nemchand Smarak Trust, a charitable trust, was sold to Pune-based Gokhale Constructions for Rs 311 crore. It houses a decades-old Jain boarding facility and the Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Digambar Jain Temple. A statement by Vishal Gokhale, Chairman and Managing Director of Gokhale Constructions said that the company was backing out of the deal. He wrote, “In view of the developments of the last few days, we have taken an important decision regarding the transaction of the Seth Hirachand Nemchand Digambar Jain Boarding in Model Colony. The temple present there is sacred to us as well and we respect the sentiments of the Jain brothers regarding the temple. Therefore, respecting the sentiments of the Jain community regarding the said temple and the hostel building, we have decided to exit this project. Accordingly, we have sent a letter to the Seth Hirachand Nemchand Digambar Jain Boarding Trust via email requesting that legal proceedings be initiated to cancel the said transaction.” The Jain community, Indian National Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and even BJP ally Shiv Sena had launched attacks on sitting Pune MP Muralidhar Mohol over his alleged connection to Gokhale Construction and the deal. Mohol had earlier denied having any part in the deal and said, “I was in no way involved with the purchase of the Jain property. All the transactions were carried out by the Gokhale builders, with whom I had parted ways 11 months ago.” Reacting to this development, former MP Raju Shetti, who had been leading the protest against the sale, told reporters, “We are not satisfied by just this letter. The (temple) trustees should come forward to cancel this transaction completely. Currently the land is in the name of the builders, until it is transferred to the HND trust our fight will not end.” Gokhale Constructions, the company at the centre of the Jain hostel controversy, said on Sunday that it is backing out of the deal after controversy over the past few days. The 3.5 acre property in Model Colony belonging to Seth Hirachand Nemchand Smarak Trust, a charitable trust, was sold to Pune-based Gokhale Constructions for Rs 311 crore. It houses a decades-old Jain boarding facility and the Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Digambar Jain Temple. A statement by Vishal Gokhale, Chairman and Managing Director of Gokhale Constructions said that the company was backing out of the deal. He wrote, “In view of the developments of the last few days, we have taken an important decision regarding the transaction of the Seth Hirachand Nemchand Digambar Jain Boarding in Model Colony. The temple present there is sacred to us as well and we respect the sentiments of the Jain brothers regarding the temple. Therefore, respecting the sentiments of the Jain community regarding the said temple and the hostel building, we have decided to exit this project. Accordingly, we have sent a letter to the Seth Hirachand Nemchand Digambar Jain Boarding Trust via email requesting that legal proceedings be initiated to cancel the said transaction.” The Jain community, Indian National Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and even BJP ally Shiv Sena had launched attacks on sitting Pune MP Muralidhar Mohol over his alleged connection to Gokhale Construction and the deal. Mohol had earlier denied having any part in the deal and said, “I was in no way involved with the purchase of the Jain property. All the transactions were carried out by the Gokhale builders, with whom I had parted ways 11 months ago.” Reacting to this development, former MP Raju Shetti, who had been leading the protest against the sale, told reporters, “We are not satisfied by just this letter. The (temple) trustees should come forward to cancel this transaction completely. Currently the land is in the name of the builders, until it is transferred to the HND trust our fight will not end.”