'Go back to Pakistan': Indian-origin man told by squatters who took over his New York home

The home ended up in a bank auction after the Pollocks were sued for foreclosure in 2008. (Representational image: Unsplash)

An Indian-origin man and his family in New York witnessed what they called a "Christmas miracle" after two squatters who had taken over their home, refusing to leave it, finally moved out by December 25.

Bobby Chawla, whose family bought the 1,536-square-foot house 22 months ago in a bank auction, was unable to move in because accused squatters Barry and Barbara Pollack wouldn’t leave, the New York Post reported. The squatters were even caught on video telling the Chawlas to “go back to Pakistan.”

According to the publication, the Pollacks bought the home in September 1990 for $255,000, but by 2006 they had some financial trouble and stopped paying their mortgage. Further, to stop the bank from taking over the property, the couple began filing “skeleton” and “frivolous” bankruptcies in three different courts. This made the courts stay their eviction order for 17 years which meant that the Pollacks stayed in the house without paying the mortgage for nearly two decades.

The home ended up in a bank auction after they were sued for foreclosure in 2008. The case dragged on for 11 years, the New York Post reported. And to prevent the Pollacks from extending their stay in the house, last Friday a federal bankruptcy judge barred the Pollacks from further filings.

But even then, the squatters refused to move out until their misuse of the court system was exposed by the media. The Pollocks were spotted moving out and by Friday, the house appeared to be vacant.

“It feels like a Christmas Miracle, I can’t believe it,” said Chawla, who cannot officially take over the home without a judge’s approval, the publication stated. “I did feel a sense of relief... but I won’t be satisfied until I have possession of my home. This guy is not to be trusted.”

Commenting on the case, Chawlas’ lawyer Heath Berger told the New York Post, "While most debtors are honest and hard-working individuals who are looking for a fresh start in bankruptcy, these debtors are not. Hopefully, they have filed their last petition in bankruptcy court.”

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