AJL submitted plan for Congress Bhavan, not library

New evidence has emerged that the architect of The Associate Journals Limited (AJL) had submitted a plan to the fire department for construction of Congress Bhavan and not a library. Also, Motilal Vora, as chairman of the company had paid the amount to the fire department for a No Objection Certificate.

The documents available with this newspaper revealed that AJL had plans to build a commercial establishment at a plot located in Bandra. The plot has been allotted to AJL by the state government. The receipt revealed that the plan submitted by Sunil Ambre, architect of the company sought an NOC from the fire department. Mr Ambre has mentioned in his plan that the proposal is to build a commercial building, which was referred to as Congress Bhavan. The plan was submitted to the fire department in February 2013. The department gave a receipt of Rs 3,35,325 dated February 5, 2013 against the security deposit by the name of Motilal Vora, chairman of AJL.

Mr Ambre refused to comment on the issue. Meanwhile, Gautam Chatterjee, principal secretary (Housing) has been appointed by the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to probe the issue. BJP and Shiv Sena had raised the issue of violation in allotment of land for Nehru Memorial library during the Winter Session of the state legislature.