Vadodara Municipal Corporation safai worker gets sealing notice for Rs 16 crore loan he never took

VADODARA: Sanitation worker Shantilal Solanki eked a living sweeping streets clean for the Vadodara Municipal Corporation. But, a sticky spot in his own life not only remained a constant spoiler for years but took the wind out of his sails also when a recovery notice for a whopping Rs 16 crore loan was served on him recently.
And that's not all. The notice by the executive magistrate further warned that in case the money is not recovered, his "commercial property in Alkapuri" will be sealed!
Ironically, Solanki has neither taken any loans, let alone of such an astronomical figure, nor has he ever heard of the commercial property he allegedly "owns". "Lenders keep saying my credit score is bad and so, I cannot get a loan," Solanki told TOI, adding that he earns a monthly salary of Rs 50,000 and lives in a house worth around Rs 5 lakh only, which he took on loan.
The notice states that the commercial property at Sterling Centre in Alkapuri will be sealed on May 4 under The Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002.
The notice adds that the sealed property will be handed over to the international banking branch in Agra of the Punjab National Bank (PNB). The pending loan amount in the notice is Rs 16,00,50,300.93!
"I do not even own that property. I have nothing to do with PNB," said Solanki who got the notice on April 3, which left his wife and brother ill due to mental tension.
"How was such a large advance given in my name? I am clueless and don't know what to do," said Solanki who was issued the notice by the Vadodara city mamlatdar (east). Recently, Solanki approached a prominent lawyer in the city, Niraj Jain.
"This matter needs to be investigated thoroughly," said Jain pointing out that it was strange that such a loan existed in the name of a man who swept the streets. "There are chances that Solanki may be the victim of fraud. We have written to the collector and sought more details regarding the issue," the lawyer added.