Pankaj Shah on the Spot for Evicting Tenant After Receiving Nearly Ksh 1 Billion in Rent
Through a vigorous examination by Obure’s Lawyer, Muthoni Nkonge, Pankaj admitted that the eviction orders were contested in court.
A director of AC & Others Company Limited has experienced a challenge before the High Court in explaining why he evicted a city businessman despite receiving Ksh 981 million rent.
While giving his testimony at the Milimani court before Justice Charles Kariuki, Pankaj Chhaganlal Shah admitted to receiving the said money arising from a lease agreement dated September 1, 2017, and September 2023.
The matter stems from the eviction of SBS Dunhill Group Limited, a company owned by the Chairman of Meriton Group of Companies, Philip Chrisantus Obure, on May 16, 2025, under a court order that was stayed.
Pankaj admitted before the court to execute the order that was stayed, but said he was unaware of the stay.
“Through my lawyer, I got an order for them to vacate the premises though I did not know that the orders were stayed where the case is still ongoing,” Pankaj told the court.
Through a vigorous examination by Obure’s Lawyer, Muthoni Nkonge, Pankaj admitted that the eviction orders were contested in court.
The court heard that the property in question, Senteu Plaza on LR NO 1)1373 in Kilimani, is owned by four brothers: Ajeetkumar Chhaganlal (deceased), Chandulal Chhaganilal Shah (deceased), Pankaj Chhaganlal Shah, and Kamalkumar Chhaganlal Shah.
The four brothers agreed with SBS Dunhill Limited to sublet their premises for six years for a consideration of Ksh 160 million.
The judge heard that after the lapse of 6 years’ lease, the property would be sold to SBS at a consideration of Ksh 1.3 Billion
“It was also resolved at the said meeting that the prospective Landlord (s) be informed that the Applicant’s International Board of Directors would,” only take up space in their building and invest close to USD Ten Million (USD 10,000,000.00) therein if the (the Landlords) agree in good faith that they would sell the building to the Applicant at the expiry of the anticipated six-year Lease term beginning 2017 to 2020 and 2020 to 2023″ Obure said through his lawyer.
SBS informed Justice Kariuki that it was irregularly evicted after paying more than Ksh 1 billion towards the acquisition of the suit property; however, Pankaj denied receiving any money towards the purchase of the property.
Pankaj told the court that by the time they evicted SBS from the property, it was in rent arrears amounting to Ksh 10 million.
“The tenant had indicated in a letter that he was in rent arrears and he was looking for money to offset the arrears where the money was never paid,” he said.
In the intervening period, Pankaj told the court that his two brothers, who signed the lease agreements, had died.
The court heard that Pankaj never signed any lease agreement with SBS, but his late brothers did. The lease was signed by the late Ajeet Kumar Chhaganlal and Chandulal Chhaganlal Shah, who passed away in 2018 and 2022, respectively.
