Ma and Pa Pundole fight to repossess their Bombay apartment, 2006 onwards

13 October 2008

Before leaving India for Malaysia in 1965 (??) Roshan and Noshir Pundole on compassionate grounds had allowed a relative, Ms Meher Master Moos, to use one of the bedrooms of their their apartment at 20 Nepean Sea Road, Bombay, rent free, because she was in a desperate situation following a messy divorce. The understanding was that she would stay for upto six months, more than enough time for her to find alternative accommodation. However, Meher Master Moos decided to stay on without so much as seeking permission to do so. She began appropriating the other rooms and over more than 20 years had taken over the entire apartment. She refused to leave in spite of multiple requests by the Pundoles. In fact, she demanded an inordinate sum of money - US$ 550,000 - to vacate. Not only that, she managed to seriously run the apartment down through neglect and caused irreperable damage to the Pundoles' antque furniture.

In October 2009, Pa Noshir Pundole and Kershasp, who was visiting KL, flew to Bombay (now Mumbai) to prosecute the eviction of Ms. Meher Master Moos from the apartment. Given the not-so-speedy turnover the Mumbai small causes courts are renowned for, they're likely to be away for a rather extended period. We (Hootoksi and I) have moved into the KL apartment to be with Ma Roshan during Pa’s absence.