Jalsa, Amitabh Bachchan’s Juhu bungalow, is now at the centre of a family row over who owns it.
Ramola Bachchan, wife of Amitabh’s younger brother Ajitabh, is challenging a 1993 gift deed that reportedly passed the property to Jaya Bachchan. Her claim: nobody told her, and she never consented. In the last seven months, she has reportedly written to the registration authorities more than once.
The dispute came back into focus, according to reports, when attempts were made to put Jaya’s name in place of Ramola’s on the state’s property card.
The matter is currently being reviewed at the office of the Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Andheri. Deputy Registrar Faiyz Mulani confirmed receiving the complaint and said that a hearing has been initiated. The concerned parties have been asked to submit their responses in regard to the complaint.
It is worth noting that a stark difference was revealed as the records maintained by the Kapol Housing Society reportedly identified Jaya as the owner, and the government property card continues to carry Ramola’s name. She further questioned the validity of the gift deed, alleging that it was prepared on plain paper without payment of stamp duty at the time and did not have witness’ signatures. She also raised questions over its subsequent registration and regularization under Maharashtra government’s Abhay Yojana scheme.
So far, there is no official statement regarding the dispute by either of the family members. A spokesperson for Abhishek Bachchan declined to comment, describing it as an internal family matter. The authorities are yet to determine the validity of the disputed gift deed or establish the ownership claims. No final decision has been declared in this matter.