New York: India has rejected New York city's contention that it is using the 26- storey building owned by it near the United Nations in Manhattan for commercial purposes.

Commenting on the city filing a lawsuit to "recover" more than $ 16.3 million in property tax arrears, a senior officer of the Indian Mission to the United Nations said that unlike some other missions, India has not rented any part of the premises to any commercial organisation.

The mission has offices on the first four floors. The remaining have 15 residential apartments and five single room units for the diplomatic officers of the Mission and the Consulate General of India. These officers enjoy diplomatic immunity, he said.

He said India would take up the matter with the United States' State Department, as also American mission to the United Nations.

Discussions, he added, have been going on the issue for some time, but declined to speculate on the reasons as to why city filed suit at this time. "We have no idea about the reasons," he said.

A city spokesperson had said only the apartment occupied by the Ambassador or head of mission is exempt from the property tax.

In the suit, the city has claimed that India has not paid property tax since 1985 and the amount includes interest on the unpaid amount.

PTI