In a first, a housing society has apologised for its discriminatory behaviour.
In a first, a housing society has apologised for its discriminatory behaviour. The Vasai-based society, which had prevented a woman from selling her flat to a Muslim family, issued an apology letter on Tuesday to both the buyer and seller. It also gave an NOC allowing the flat to be sold for Rs 48 lakh.
Society secretary Jitendra Jain handed over a letter to Wiqar Hamid Khan, who wanted to purchase the flat, which had the signatures of all 11 members of the Happy Jivan Co-op Housing Society.
“Hamare dwara yadi aapki bhawna ya anney kisi bhi vykati ko thes pahunchi ho to ham sab iske liye aapse aur sabse kshma prarthi hai. (If you or anyone felt offended because of us, we are sorry to you and everyone),” the letter reads.
The society’s residents summoned Mr Khan and handed him the letter while the latter invited them to visit his home for Id.
The society’s members told Mr Khan that they wouldn’t repeat their mistake, as they were ashamed of the incident.
Presently, Mr Khan, his wife and three children reside at Sai Nagar in Vasai. He is engaged in the glass business. Kantaben Patel wanted to sell her 710-square-foot first-floor flat to Mr Khan for '48 lakh.
Mr Khan had said that he had paid Ms Patel Rs 1 lakh as a token amount and he told her he would get a bank loan to purchase the house when he received the no-objection certificate.
Mr Khan and Ms Patel then applied for the certificate, but the society failed to issue the document. When Ms Patel inquired, she received a resolution that was signed by 11 society members, which stated that Ms Patel could sell her flat only to someone from her own community, and not Mr Khan.
Irked by this, the woman and her son lodged a police complaint on Friday. Acting up on the complaint, the Manikpur police arrested the society members on Monday morning. They were released on bail on the same day by the Vasai court.
