“A team of officers headed by Patricia Fialho, Assistant Custodian of Enemy Property, had come to our office to take over the building without any prior notice,” said Abdul Rahman, state vice-president, TNTJ, when this newspaper contacted him.

News of the Central sleuths’ arrival from Mumbai office spread like wildfire and triggered a flow of supporters to TNTJ HQ. “We have been giving rent for the property to the CEP regularly. But they landed here without any prior notice. They claim they are planning to sell the property. In that case, we are ready to buy the building,” said a TNTJ office-bearer.

With crowd gathering, police officers too reached the spot. After holding peace talks, the CEP has given two days’ time to TNTJ.

“We will be approaching the court seeking a legal solution,” Abdul Rahman said.

Across the country, the CEP reportedly manages 9,406 Enemy Properties of which 9,280 belonged to Pakistan nationals (who had left the country during Partition) and 126 of Chinese nationals, worth thousands of crores of rupees, verified and vested with the Custodian of Enemy Property for India. There are probably 5,866 numbers of properties still remaining to be verified and declared as Enemy Property.