Congress to retrieve 500 cr party assets

The state Congress Property Retrieval Committee, which, he claims to be a first of its kind body constituted by him a few months ago, has identified properties worth Rs 500 crore under encroachment in over 190 places across the state. 

From a small piece of land measuring a few dozen square feet to several acres, properties once donated by individuals to the Congress for various social and political activities were found to be in possession of non-Congress members, including the rival BJP and breakaway TMC (Tamil Maanila Congress). 

Notably, the valuable realty is not affiliated to the TNCC trust. Instead, these donations are attached to small trusts formed locally in respective districts by the donors or their heirs for Congress party activities. The encroachment story came to light when the 16-member committee headed by the TNCC chief and comprising former advocate general G Masilamani and senior advocate Gandhi of Madras High Court had travelled to 190 and odd places during the last few months. 

It has come to the committee’s knowledge during the visits that a BJP functionary was in possession of valuable realty in The Nilgiris, while a TMC officer-bearer was using a tract of land measuring one acre once donated to the Congress. In a southern district, one such donated property is under the occupation of person claiming to be Congress (Janata), revealed Thirunavukkarasar. 

“In some places, properties are being used by heirs of donors. People who quit Congress and joined TMC and other parties also continue to enjoy the party properties. So, we decided to retrieve them. The senior advocates in the committee will explore legal remedy wherever necessary,” the TNCC chief explained.