Chandigarh, Feb. 21 -- Seven years after two businessmen allegedly fled Hotel Shivalikview without paying a Rs.19-lakh bill, the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation Limited (CITCO) remains saddled with their abandoned luxury vehicles, with legal hurdles blocking any meaningful recovery.

CITCO had seized an Audi Q5 and a Chevrolet Cruze left behind by the duo, identified as Ashwani Chopra of Ludhiana and Ramnik Bansal of Ferozepur, who stayed at the hotel for over five months (between May and October 2018) before disappearing without clearing their dues.

Once valued at nearly Rs.70 lakh combined, the vehicles have depreciated drastically after lying unused on the hotel premises since 2018. Officials said the reserve...