Assets worth over Rs 28 crore attached in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Properties worth Rs 28.72 crore belonging to 160 persons directly connected to Popular Front of India (PFI) have been attached by the government in connection with recovering the loss occurred to public and private properties in the hartal organized by PFI in the state.
As per government data, 209 properties were attached by the government from 14 districts. Properties with the highest valuation were attached from Kottayam district. As many as 87 properties worth Rs 7.53 crore were attached from 53 persons in Malappuram and 23 properties worth Rs 5.12 crore were attached from 22 persons in Palakkad.
Also, eight properties worth Rs 2.94 crore were attached from eight individuals in Kannur. Properties of 18 individuals were seized in Thrissur, 11 in Wayanad and 10 in Kozhikode.
The properties of the PFI leaders were seized under sections 35 and 36 of the Kerala Revenue Recovery Act, 1968. Section 35 of the Act authorizes the collector or the authorized officer to recover arrears after the attachment and sale of immovable properties of the defaulter. Section 36 of the act explains the mode of attachment and section 49 provides the procedure for sale of seized immovable properties.
Based on the HC's directive on Jan 18 this year, the government issued orders to attach the properties owned by PFI leaders and activists to recover the loss incurred to public and private properties in connection with the hartal it organized in state. The PFI had organized a hartal on Sept 23 last year to protest against the raids at the homes and offices of its leaders after the Centre banned PFI.