Preeti Sagar evicted from Mumbai flat after 30-year legal battle
Singer Preeti Sagar and her sisters have been told by the Bombay High Court to leave their Walkeshwar flat within eight weeks, ending a legal tug-of-war that started way back in 1996.
The flat, originally rented by their parents for just ₹173.79 a month, actually belongs to the Sheth Amichand Pannalal Adishwar Jain Temple Trust.
Court said arguments under Rent Act didn't hold
The trust wants the space for a bhojan shala—the temple has up to 5,000 visitors daily, including foreign tourists.
The court said Sagar and her sisters' arguments under the Rent Act didn't hold up, especially since they turned down offers of smaller replacement flats.
In the end, the judge decided it was fairer for the trust to get its property back.
What's next for Sagar and her sisters?
Sagar's side now has two weeks to file an affidavit stating that no third party rights would be created in the premises.
While it's not clear if they'll appeal again, this ruling is a big step in wrapping up one of Mumbai's longest-running housing disputes.