Rajkot: Thorala police on Thursday registered a criminal case against a local builder for allegedly breaking the bank’s official seal and lock on a seized residential flat and handing over its possession to an unauthorised family.According to the FIR, the case relates to flat no. 302 on the third floor of Shivam Apartments, located in Satyam Park on 80-feet Road. The complaint was filed by Parakramsinh Zala, regional manager of Axis Bank.As per the complaint, borrower Hitesh Zinzuvadiya had obtained a home loan of Rs 19.50 lakh from Axis Bank’s Ring Road branch in Jan 2016 to buy the flat, developed by Shivam Developers. Following repeated defaults in loan repayments, the account was classified as a non-performing asset (NPA) on April 11, 2021.The bank initiated recovery proceedings under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act, 2002. Acting on an order issued by the chief judicial magistrate court, Rajkot, the bank officially took possession of the property and sealed it.The violation came to light on Sep 11, when Zala, accompanied by another bank manager, Pratik Kothari, visited the flat for inspection. They found that the bank’s official seal and padlock had been broken and an unauthorised family was living inside the premises.During an inquiry, the occupant told bank officials that builder Vinu Pipaliya, was his friend and had handed over the flat to the family after breaking open the bank’s lock and seal.Following directions from senior management, the bank lodged a formal police complaint. Thorala police have registered an FIR against Pipaliya under Section 331(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
