Sahara's Aamby Valley gates locked, but reopens after payments

 The Maharashtra government on Tuesday sealed the Sahara Group-owned Aamby Valley City for non-payment of dues worth Rs 4.82 crore.

However, within hours the township located near the famous twin hill stations of Lonavla-Khandala in Pune district had to be reopened.

The Lonavala-based property was sealed by the Mulshi Taluka Tahsildar for non-payment of non-agricultural tax of Rs. 4.82 crore. “For the past two years, the Aamby Valley city has not paid the Non agricultural (NA) land tax amounting to Rs 4.50 crore and hence the action was taken,” said Naib Tehsildar Nilesh Gaikwad.

Vivek Kumar, CEO of Aamby Valley & Hotel Sahara Star, Mumbai, however, said that the action was illegal and the gates have been reopened.  “A company which is valued for over Rs 1 lakh crore and is independent India’s first planned hill city, a creative expression of our founder Subrata Roy, came to news for non-payment of Non-Agriculture Tax which is Rs 27 lacs only (Rupees Twenty Seven Lacs only) as of today (Tuesday), because of the other dues aggregating to Rs 2,26,13,870,” he said.

"It will only be liable for payment by the closure of current Financial year i.e. 31st March, 2016; therefore we still have 30 days left for payment," he said.

Kumar added that outstanding amount  of Rs 2,53,41,610 (outstanding dues of Rs.27,27,740 and Rs.2,26,13,870 is for the current year 2015-2016) paid by cheque onTuesday.