Business tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia has said he has no business appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enteprises (COSASE).
The committee had on December 3, 2019 summoned him in relation to how he acquired five houses that are said to have been part of departed Asians’ properties.
The properties in question are Plot 43 on Jinja Road, Plot 24 on Kampala road, Plot 8 on Colville Street, Plots 3 and 5 on Bombo road (all in Kampala) and Plot 26 on Republic Street in Mbale Town.
However Sudhir, through his lawyers of Walusimbi & Co Advocates wrote back to COSASE saying he has nothing to defend before them.
He said he has never purchased any properties from the Departed Asians Properties Custodian Board (DAPCB).
“In the result, he (Sudhir) requests for your advice as to why his presence is required, especially it being that he has never purchased any property from the DAPCB nor has he claimed any property on behalf of anybody,” the lawyers wrote in a December 3 letter.
Regarding the building on Plot 43, Jinja Road, Sudhir said what he possesses does not match with the descriptions of COSASE.
For Plot 24 on Kampala road, Sudhir said he bought the property under his company, Meera Investments Ltd and that in 2012, he won a court case, which DAPCB had instituted against him challenging his ownership.
“With your guidance, we need to advise our client whether matters decided upon by court can be subjected to an inquiry,” the lawyer's’ letter to COSASE states.
