Mumbai housing society has cleared sale of apartment to Muslim family after case, arrests.
A Muslim family in Mumbai will no longer be banned from an apartment complex that had tried to stop them from buying a house last week. The change of heart comes two days after nine people were arrested for denying them an apartment.
The "Happy Jeevan" housing society in Vasai on the outskirts of Mumbai has finally given a no-objection letter to Jignesh Patel, who had been denied permission to sell his apartment to Ahmed Khan, a glass merchant.
Eleven people were charged with "hurting religious feelings" after Mr Patel complained to the police. The nine who were arrested are out on bail.
The society's letter had said that residents are opposed to a non-vegetarian family.
The complex has 16 flats and two are owned by Muslim families, who say they were never consulted before the letter was sent.
This is not the first example of discrimination by apartment owners or residential societies, but a police case and arrests are rare in such cases.
Mr Patel approached the building's officials earlier this month after firming up the sale of his first floor flat to Mr Khan, who is a father of three. Since Mr Khan wanted a bank loan, a no-objection certificate was necessary. "They gave me a letter signed by residents saying that selling the flat to a Muslim will spoil the atmosphere," Mr Patel told NDTV. The police filed an FIR or formal complaint on Saturday night.
In the new letter, Mr Patel said, officials of the complex say they have "no problem with the flat being sold to a Muslim."
He added: "They have even apologized. All I wanted was to be able to sell the flat. I'm considering withdrawing the complaint now."