New Delhi: Charging a bidding fix in disinvestment of lucrative Air India hotels in Mumbai and Delhi, key NDA (National Democratic Alliance) constituent Shiv Sena today (Aug 18, 2004) joined the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) members in Rajya Sabha in demanding a high-level probe into the sale of Centaur hotels.

Alleging that Centaur hotels were "undervalued" and "undersold", Shiv Sena members Sanjay Nirupam joined the UPA members in demanding an enquiry by CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) and CVC (Central Vigilance Commission) into the sale to single bidders.

The members feared that these lucrative properties would be resold to make hefty profit.

Participating in a Calling Attention on the issue, Congress and Left party members said though the sale had been approved for Rs 153 crore on the floor price of Rs 101 crore, the purchaser, Tulip Enterprises, had been given several extensions to complete the transaction and a consortium of public sector and private sector banks had bailed out the buyer.

Anand Sharma (Cong) said though there were 20 bidders, three had been found ineligible and 16 others had disappeared mysteriously leading to apprehensions of a "bidding fix".

Sanjay Nirupam said Batra Hospitality, which had bought the Mumbai Airport Centaur and which had now been closed for over a year, should be blacklisted and not allowed to take part in any Government disinvestment tendering. He alleged the group, instead of being blacklisted, had been short listed for sale of Airport Centaur in the capital.