The Maharashtra government on Saturday sealed the Marine Drive flat of actress-singer Suraiya who had died in Mumbai without making a will. She has no heir.

State Administrator General M K Patil had moved the high court after the secretary of Cine Association Ali Khan filed an application apprehending that the properties might be grabbed by persons with vested interests as Suraiya had not nominated any legal heir.

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He pleaded that under the provisions of the Administration General Act of 1963 (amended in 2002), he had the powers to step into the shoes of the deceased and take over the properties of any person who dies without appointing any legal heir.

Under Section 10 of Administrator General Act of 1963, the Administrator General has the powers to take over the movable and immovable properties of a person who dies intestate. The parental department of the Administrator General is law and judiciary, official sources said.

After getting the requisite permission from Justice S F Vajifdar of the Mumbai high court, Patil sealed Suriaya's Marine Drive flat on the ground floor of Krishna Mahal building in the presence of her solicitor and family friend Dhiman Thakker..

He would take possession of Suraiya's property at Worli on Sunday and thereafter of another property owned by her at nearby Lonavala. He asked anyone with knowledge of her properties to inform him of the same.

Claimants to the properties of Suraiya can approach the Administrator General of Maharashtra and plead their case.