Sanatorium owned by city trust awaits its fate as battle rages in waqf tribunal

Mumbai: An old, defunct sanatorium and a villa in Deolali, Nashik, owned by a city-based trust, is at the centre of a dispute. After battling claims and petitions at different levels, including the Bombay High Court, the Maharashtra Waqf Board and the Charity Commissioner, the trust and the opponents of its sale plan await the waqf tribunal’s decision.

Recently, in a viral video from the Deolali property, Ateeq Anwar Agboatwala, chairman of the Hajee Noor Mohammed Hajee Janmohammed Latiff Charities and owner of the property, was seen arguing with some locals at a religious structure on the property.

This is a three decade-old mosque on the property which Agboatwala wants to sell to a builder for Rs 27 crore, much less than the market value. I offered him Rs 29 crore, but he refused. If the property is sold to an outsider, the trust’s purpose will be defeated,” said advocate Yusuf Iqbal Yusuf, a member of the Halai Memon community.

Agboatwala refuted the charges, accusing advocate Yusuf and his other opponents of making it a “communal issue”.

What our opponents could not get by legal means (cases were filed in the Bombay High Court, Charity Commission and Waqf Board), they are trying to achieve through illegal means,” alleged Agboatwala.