JOIN USWell-known five-start hotel, JW Marriott, was forced to pay up property tax dues of Rs 5.59 crore just four hours after a team of BBMP officials seized its movable properties on Thursday.
High drama unfolded in the morning when a Palike team led by BBMP Joint Commissioner (East) K C Yathish Kumar seized furniture, including 217 chairs and 23 tables, television sets, landline phones and other articles for non-payment of Rs 5.59 crore in property tax.
With police help, the Palike seized the properties and put up a notice outside the hotel on Vittal Mallya Road asking the management to pay up. “Despite being served notices, the hotel management had failed to pay the tax which is overdue since 2013,” an official said.
Responding quickly, JW Marriott, owned by Gstaad Hotels Pvt Ltd, paid the tax dues through a demand draft four hours later. M Shivaraju, Chairman of BBMP Tax and Finance Standing Committee, said the hotel had earlier offered to pay Rs 1.19 crore, but the Palike insisted on full payment. The properties were later returned.