Citing cash crunch by pandemic Osho trust starts process to sell two plots in Pune

    Pune, Mar 7 (PTI) Citing a "monetary crisis" caused by
the COVID-19 pandemic, the Osho International Foundation (OIF)
has initiated the process to sell two plots located at the
Osho International Meditation Resort here in Maharashtra for
Rs 107 crore.
    However, the move has triggered a row with two
disciples of deceased godman Osho Rajneesh raising an
objection and filing an intervention petition before the
charity commissioner.
    TheZurich-based OIF, which owns the Osho
International Meditation Resort or Osho Ashram, has sought the
permission from the Charity Commissioner to sell two of its
plots (about 9,836 square meters) in the resort located at
posh Koregaon Park area here to Rajivnayan Bajaj of Bajaj Auto
and Rishabh Family Trust for Rs 107 crore.
    However, two disciples of Osho- Yogesh Thakkar alias
Swami Premgeet and Kishor Raval alias Swami Anad--have filed
an intervention petition before the charity commissioner,
Mumbai challenging the proposed sale of land.
    The commune, started by Acharya Rajneesh, has stopped
all its meditation activities. The commune is currently closed
due to COVID-19 pandemic.
    In its application, the OIF submitted that "looking at
the present situation in India and around the world and the
uncertainty about the continuation of COVID-19 effect, it
would not be possible to restart the meditation activities in
the near future. This has severely affected the cash flow of
the trust, leading it into the dire need of funds to meet its
financial obligations".
    The application further stated that the situation
caused onthe account of COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a
situation whereby the applicant Trust will not have any income
for a long period of time but there will be fixed costs for
maintaining the premises and the properties of the Trust.
    "Considering this financial crisis, the applicant
Trust is left with no resort but to alienate its rights in the
said property," it stated.
    The OIF also said that it will face a "heavy monetary
crisis" in the event of its application getting rejected.
    "On the contrary, if the applicant Trust alienates
thesaid property, it shall have an adequate cash flow to
maintain its properties, upkeep of various premises, staff
salaries and it shall be able to achieve its aims and
objects," the OIF said.
    As per the application, the OIF received bids from
Atul Choradia, A2Z Online Services Pvt Ltd and Rajivnayan
Rahulkumar Bajaj and Rishabh Family Trust.
    "Since Bajaj was the highest bidder with Rs 107 crore,
the decision was taken toalienate the Trust's rights in the
said property in favour of Bajaj," it said.
    Objecting to the decision, Swami Premgeet, one of the
petitioners and a member of the Osho Friends Foundation (OFF),
said their application filed before the Charity Commissioner,
Mumbai, has been allowed.
    "We will file our objections against the application
filed by the OIF," he told PTI, adding that the matter is kept
for hearing on March 15.
    Swami Premgeet said the major objection was publishing
the tender notice advertisement to invite offers for the said
property in Mumbai when the property is located in Pune.
    "Why the tender notice did not have the name of the
owner of the property, and name of the trustees. How will
people know which property is for sale and who are the
trustees or the owners," Premgeet said, alleging that the
tender notice was a complete violation of rules laid by the
charity commissioner.
    "The Trust's application states that from April 1,
2020 to September 30, 2020 (during lockdown), the trust spent
Rs 3.65 crore on the objects of the trust. Now when the entire
country was under lockdown and Ashram doors are closed till
date, where these Rs 3.65 crore were spent," he questioned.
    When contacted, Maa Amrit Sadhana, spokesperson
andone of thetrustees of the OIF, said the matter was "sub
judice".
    In a statement, Maa Sadhana said the decision to sell
off the property has been taken to ensure the survival and
continued care of the meditation resort in the face of a "very
cloudy and unknown future due to COVID-19".
    She added that there are many unknowns going forwards,
including the major economic disruption caused by the pandemic
with protracted limitations on international travel, border
controls and compulsory quarantines on top of significant
concerns about safety.
    "These issues are further exacerbated by the recent
emergence of more infectious covid variants. These variants
are now reinfecting people who have previously had covid and
are threatening to compromise the efficacy and distribution of
vaccines already a mammoth, long-term undertaking," she
said.
    Maa Sadhana further added that the proposed sale is
now awaiting the Charity Commissioner's permission.
    "Basho is just 10% of the meditation resort property.
The campus is very large and provides for many locations for
the replacement of the Basho components, including the pool,
the jacuzzi and so on. New designs forthese are being worked
on.
    "The funds that will be coming from this sale will
ensure a continuous income stream for the maintenance and care
of the campus, no matter how long it takes before we can go
back to the new normal," she stated. PTI SPK
NSK NSK

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)