The ship-breaking firm from Alang — Shree Ram Group — which bought INS Viraat from an auction and took it for dismantling last week has demanded Rs 100 crore from a Mumbai-based company that is making a last-ditch attempt to save the historic aircraft carrier and convert it into a museum.
“The company from Mumbai wants to buy the ship from us. I told them that I am a patriot, too, and I do not have a problem if they want to salvage the historic ship. But because I bought this in scrap, you will have to produce an NOC (No-objection-certificate) from the Government of India. I do not want anyone to allege in future that I was involved in a scam,” Mukesh Patel, chairman of Shree Ram Group, told The Indian Express.
“Secondly, I do not want to see the company’s credit worthiness. I have told them that I will need Rs 125 crore for the ship, but I do not mind giving it to them at Rs 100 crore if they can refloat the vessel at
