With rent of Rs 4 lakh per month, it is by far one of the most expensive rental deals in the city
Yogesh Sadhwani (PUNE MIRROR; July 20, 2018)

Actor Ranbir Kapoor is being sued for asking a family to vacate a plush apartment in Trump Towers, Kalyani Nagar, much before the agreement came to an end. Sheetal Suryawanshi, a city-based businesswoman, has sought damages and interest for being evicted sooner from the flat, despite it being rented to her for 24 months.

The case is raging in Pune civil court, where Suryawanshi has sought damages to the tune of Rs 50.40 lakh and interest of another Rs 1.08 lakh. Suryawanshi’s apartment, spread over 6,094 square feet (built up), is on the 10th floor of Trump Towers. She had taken it on leave and license basis from the actor in October 2016. The license fee was decided at Rs 4 lakh per month for the first 12 months, and Rs 4.20 lakh for the next 12. Over and above this, Suryawanshi paid a deposit of Rs 24 lakh.

In August 2017, a good 11 months after Suryawanshi moved in with her family, she was asked to vacate the flat, which she eventually emptied by the end of September.

According to the suit filed earlier this year, ‘24-months shall be a lock-in period’ was the arrangement in the agreement signed between the two sides. It states that Suryawanshi decided to take the apartment only after she was comfortable with the long-term arrangement in the agreement.

The suit states that she first received an email on August 21, 2017, asking her to vacate the flat by the end of September that year. “In the said notice (sent on an email), it was falsely informed by the defendant (Ranbir) that he wants to shift into the said premises, and for this reason, the plaintiff (Suryawanshi) was asked to vacate the said premises in contravention of the terms and conditions of the leave and license agreement,” the suit states.

She alleged that she was ‘maliciously deceived’ by the actor to vacate despite there being a lock-in period of 24 months. Suryawanshi’s suit states that her family had to suffer ‘severe inconvenience and hardships’ due to the sudden decision taken by the actor. She has sought compensation of Rs 50.40 lakh, which is the license fee for the remaining 12 months in the agreement (Rs 4.20 lakhX12). The suit states in January 2018, Suryawanshi shot a notice to the actor but did not get any response.

The Suryawanshis own a bungalow in upmarket Koregaon Park. Their newly acquired property was under renovation around the time they moved into Ranbir’s flat. They were to move back to their bungalow once the renovation was complete.

The actor on his part has denied all the allegations levelled by Suryawanshi. He has filed his responses in civil court, rubbishing all the contentions in the suit. He has stated that Suryawanshi was not asked to vacate the flat because he was moving in. In his response he has reproduced a portion of the leave and license agreement. The clause in the agreement states that lock-in period would be of 12 months and that the licensee (Suryawanshi) cannot terminate it before the said period. The portion reproduced in the actor’s response also states that if in case Suryawanshi does terminate the agreement before the expiry of 12 months, she will be liable to pay the rent for the remaining period.

“Plaintiff cannot unilaterally change, modify or interpret leave and license agreement to suit her convenience,” Ranbir’s response in court states. It also adds that Suryawanshi vacated the flat of her own free will and gave her consent before leaving and hence cannot claim damages.

“The defendant (Ranbir) is a famous film actor and busy in his occupation. There is no reason for the defendant to deceive the plaintiff in any manner whatsoever and allegations on him by the plaintiff are unfortunate and uncalled for,” states Ranbir’s reply.

Ranbir’s response also states that Surywanshi had defaulted on rent for three months before leaving, which has been deducted from the deposit. The case is scheduled to be heard next on August 28.

Trumped up
Trump Towers Pune, as the project is known, is built by Panchshil Realty. The luxury branded project has twin towers, stretching to 23 storeys each. The project has 46 sprawling residences, one on every floor. In October 2015, Rishi Kapoor bought an apartment on 12th floor of Trump Towers for Rs 11.12 crore. A couple of months later, in December, Ranbir bought a house of the same size on the 10th floor for Rs 11.12 crore. The duo paid stamp duty of Rs 67 lakh each for their houses. Insiders revealed that the flats were an investment for the actors.

First to be given out on rent was Rishi Kapoor’s flat for Rs 5 lakh per month and Rs 15 lakh deposit in August 2016. The flat was taken by Gourmet Renaissance Pvt Ltd run by Mumbaibased Suniel Bharwani. The deal signed in August 2016 was for 60 months. Next to go was Ranbir’s flat for a rent of Rs 4 lakh and Rs 24 lakh deposit. The deal was inked in October 2016.