Hindustan Motors claims WB govt seized closed plant unlawfully; unutilised land taken back: State
Responding to the accusation, a senior official said the state government had taken back 395 acres of land in 2022 from the sick company as it remained unutilised.
Kolkata, Jul 15 (PTI) Hindustan Motors Ltd on Tuesday alleged that the West Bengal government unlawfully took possession of its plant in Hooghly district without notice, though the matter is pending in the Supreme Court.
Hindustan Motors' Uttarpara plant, where the iconic Ambassador cars were manufactured, has been at the centre of a prolonged legal tussle with the state government over land rights and resumption issues.
In a regulatory filing, Hindustan Motors said that on July 11, around 11 AM, government officials, accompanied by land department authorities, police personnel and others, entered the company's premises and 'wrongfully seized' its property, including documents, machinery, equipment, licensed weapons and even the customs warehouse.
'The suo motu action taken by the concerned department of the Government of West Bengal, despite our Special Leave Petition pending before the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, has caused considerable prejudice to our challenge,' the company said.
Hindustan Motors said it has submitted a formal complaint and protest to the Special Secretary of the state Land and Land Reforms Department, both via email and in physical form, on July 11 and again on July 14.
The company claimed that the state government earlier agreed not to take any coercive action regarding the Uttarpara premises until the Supreme Court hears the matter, which is listed for July 22.
The company also expressed surprise over the state's sudden move despite these discussions.
Hindustan Motors ceased production at the Uttarpara factory in West Bengal in May 2014, while the state government took back 395 acres given to the company by an order dated November 9, 2022.
In Uttarpara, Hindustan Motors had around 720 acres, of which a land parcel of 314 acres was sold to Sriram group in 2009 at Rs 285 crore for real estate development.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee earlier announced that her government faced a scarcity of land for industry and decided to take back industrial land lying unutilised to allot it to new entrepreneurs.
'The land was earlier held by Hindustan Motors, but the government resumed it as it was not utilised and held unproductive,' a state land department official said.
The Calcutta High Court in May dismissed the writ petition filed by Hindustan Motors Ltd, which had challenged the order of the West Bengal Land Reforms and Tenancy Tribunal upholding the State's resumption of 395 acres of land under Section 6(3) of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition Act, 1953.
The court ruled that the petitioners were not entitled to any relief and affirmed the state government's authority to resume the land. A subsequent request for a stay on the judgment was also rejected.
When contacted, an official from C K Birla group expressed wonder at the development but refused to comment.
The state government had entered into a 99-year lease agreement with Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd for approximately 40 acres of contiguous land at Mouza Kotrung and Mouza Bhadrakali, Uttarpara, at a consideration of Rs 126.63 crore.
Titagarh had said this strategic land parcel will facilitate the establishment of additional production infrastructure and dedicated areas for forming, testing, and commissioning of Metro coaches and Vande Bharat trains. This will include a test track for conducting dynamic and running tests before delivery.
The newly acquired land is contiguous to Titagarh's existing 34-acre Uttarpara facility and is considered critical for the company's plans to expand its passenger rolling stock business for metro coaches, Vande Bharat trains and specialised rolling stock for the Indian defence sector.
Hindustan Motors' Uttarpara plant, which was once home to the iconic Ambassador car, has been at the centre of a prolonged legal tussle with the state government over land rights and resumption issues. PTI BSM NN
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
20 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Tyre industry revenue to rise 7-8% in FY26 on replacement demand: Crisil
Operating profitability is likely to remain steady at 13-13.5 per cent, supported by stable input costs and healthy capacity utilisation Press Trust of India New Delhi The domestic tyre industry is expected to witness revenue growth of 7-8 per cent this fiscal year, driven by replacement demand that accounts for half of annual sales, according to a report by Crisil Ratings. The segment is expected to post growth even as offtake by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) is likely to be subdued, the report stated. It also noted that the rising premiumisation is expected to give a slight leg-up to realisations. However, escalating trade tensions and the risk of dumping by Chinese producers diverting inventories because of US tariffs could pose challenges, the report stated. Operating profitability is likely to remain steady at 13-13.5 per cent, supported by stable input costs and healthy capacity utilisation, it said. This, along with strong accruals, lean balance sheets and calibrated capital spending should help sustain the sector's stable credit outlook, the report stated. "Our analysis of India's top six tyre makers, catering to all vehicle segments and accounting for 85 per cent of the sector's Rs 1 lakh crore revenue, indicates as much," it said. Domestic demand remains the mainstay, propelling 75 per cent of total volume with exports making up the rest, it added. The export momentum, however, comes with risks, the report noted. The US, accounting for 17 per cent of India's tyre export volume last fiscal year, and 4-5 per cent of overall industry volume, has imposed reciprocal tariffs on several Indian goods, potentially eroding price competitiveness, it stated. And steep US tariffs limit China's access to that market, raising the risk of excess supply being diverted into price-sensitive markets such as India, it added. To curb cheap imports, India imposes anti-dumping and countervailing duties, including a 17.57 per cent levy, on large truck and bus radials from China. "However, a broader influx of low-cost tyres across other segments could pressure domestic realisations without timely safeguards," the report added.
Mint
20 minutes ago
- Mint
Who is Chaitnaya Baghel? Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel's son arrested by ED on his birthday
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) reportedly arrested Chaitnaya Baghel, the son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel, on Friday in an alleged liquor scam-linked money laundering case. Official sources told news agency PTI that Chaitnaya was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after fresh raids were carried out at his home in Bhilai town in Durg district. The father-son duo reside at the same place. Chaitnaya Baghel, the son of Bhupesh Baghel, is currently looking after the Baghel family's vegetable farm, the Indian Express reported. He was earlier involved in the real estate business. Party sources told the media outlet that Chaitanya preferred to keep safe distance from politics. Chaitanya's formal entry into politics was initially planned between 2018-2023 when his father was the Chief Minister. However, for reasons unknown, the plan did not materialise, the report added. The next attempt was reportedly made last year when Baghel was nominated to contest the Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat. "Then last year, when Baghel was nominated to contest the Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat, speculation was rife that Chaitanya would be fielded from the Patan Assembly seat [which his father represents] if his father won. But as Baghel lost, the plan was shelved," The Indian Express reported while quoting a source. According to reports, Chaitanya Baghel was earlier questioned by Durg police in connection with the attempted murder of a Bhilai professor last year. He was summoned in September 2024, after Bhupesh Baghel wrote to ex-CJI DY Chandrachud alleging that both the state and central agencies were being "misused" to target him and his family. Sources told PTI that Chaitnaya Baghel was arrested under Section 19 of the anti-money laundering act. It was alleged that Chaitnaya was not cooperating during the searches that were conducted after authorities received fresh evidence in the case. The Enforcement Directorate conducted fresh searches at the premises of on Friday Baghel as part of an alleged liquor scam linked to a money laundering investigation against his son Chaitanya Baghel, official sources said. The ED earlier claimed that Chaitanya Baghel was suspected to be the "recipient" of the proceeds from the alleged liquor scam. It has been said that the "scam" resulted in a "massive loss" to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of a liquor syndicate with over ₹ 2,100 crore. Bhupesh Baghel said it was Chaitanya's birthday today, July 18 -- the day he was arrested by ED officials. In a post on X, Bhupesh Baghel thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the 'gift'. He said, 'Nobody in any democracy in the world can give a birthday gift like the one Modi and Shah have given.' 'On my birthday, both the most respected leaders sent the ED to the houses of my advisor and two OSDs. And now, on my son Chaitanya's birthday, an ED team is raiding my house. Thanks for these gifts. I will remember them for life," he said. Bhupesh Baghel, a senior Congress leader, posted on X saying that the ED had come to his home on the last day of the assembly session when the issue of trees being felled for a coal mine project of the Adani group in Tamnar tehsil of Raigarh district was to be raised. "Today is the last day of the state legislative (monsoon) session. The issue of trees being felled for Adani in Tamnar was scheduled to be raised (in the House). Saheb has sent ED to Bhilai Niwas," the message posted by his office said.
New Indian Express
20 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Jharkhand HC rejects PIL seeking probe into BJP MP Dhulu Mahto's assets
RANCHI: In a major relief to BJP MP Dhulu Mahto, the Jharkhand High Court on Friday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought an investigation into his alleged disproportionate assets. A division bench headed by Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad ruled the petition as non-maintainable and declined to admit it. The court had earlier reserved its verdict after hearing arguments from both parties. The PIL, filed by one Somnath Chatterjee, had urged the court to direct the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), Income Tax Department and the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Jharkhand Police to conduct a thorough probe into Mahto's assets. Chatterjee alleged that the BJP MP had amassed property worth Rs 670 crore since becoming an MLA and failed to disclose accurate details of his assets in election affidavits. He also claimed Mahto held several benami properties. The court, however, found no grounds to admit the plea and rejected the request for an independent agency probe.
