Ashtavinayak offices sealed

 The production house has lost three of its offices -- 001, 204 and 205, in VIP Plaza, Andheri, to State Bank of India (Malad West) whom they owed a sum of Rs 29 crore. Officials from the bank confirmed taking over the properties and Mirror also has a copy of the possession notice.  A few months back, SBI had taken 'symbolic possession' of the mortgaged properties, after the company defaulted on payments. SBI had planned to take over the offices last November and even sought police help. The makers of successful films like the Golmaal series, Jab We Met and Bol Bachchan, Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd, is making news again, but this time for the wrong reasons.

However, Sachin Tendulkar's farewell Test at Wankhede Stadium came to Ashtavinayak's rescue. The police force got busy providing security for the high-profile match and SBI had to wait their turn.

A source close to the development revealed, "After the Sachin match got over, Raj Mehta, head honcho of Ashtavinayak, kept buying time from SBI. Last week he even told the bank that one of his family members was unwell and he should be given more time." Added the source, "Since Monday, SBI officials have been trying to convince him to either pay up or handover the properties. But, Mehta did not relent."

On Saturday, around 9.30 am, the bank officials came in with a few cops in plain clothes and took possession of the properties. By 1 pm it was all over.

Soham Shah, who is working on the film Sher for Ashtavinayak, was summoned to the office and asked to take all the files and important documents.

Buzz is, some furniture was given away to the staff before the offices were sealed. VIP Plaza is also rejoicing as SBI has promised to clear the dues amounting to Rs 48 lakh, which the production house owed to the society.

"We have a letter from SBI stating all the dues will be cleared at the earliest," the Joint Secretary of VIP Plaza N D Nagpal told Mirror. Ashtavinayak chose not to respond to the story.