Plot thickens: MIDC claims possession of land since ’97
Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse’s troubles over the purchase of land in Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area are likely to grow after the MIDC’s Pune office sent a letter to its headquarters in Mumbai stating that the land was owned by the MIDC and was in the corporation’s possession.
The regional office also sent documents regarding the ownership and the possession of the land and the status of the dispute with the original owner. The Pune office also requested instructions from headquarters as to its future course of action.
A senior official from MIDC said that the disputed land has been in the corporation’s possession since 1997. “The original owner has opposed the land acquisition proceedings and has refused compensation. The dispute is being heard by the Bombay High Court,” the official said. The MIDC official added that the land had even been allocated to a few industries.
Gavande alleged that the land was purchased on April 28, 2016, from the original owner Abbas Ukani, a resident of West Bengal, keeping its present owner, MIDC in the dark. Khadse, in an interview to Mirror on May 24, claimed that the land was earmarked for an industrial park by MIDC in 1971 but it was never acquired by the MIDC and there was no dispute between MIDC and the original owner of the land, Abbas Ukani. “Compsensation was not paid to Ukani. He continues to own the land,” Khadse said.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis handed over investigations into the alleged phonecalls from Dawood’s residence in Karachi to Khadse to the Anti-Terrorism Squad.
The regional office also sent documents regarding the ownership and the possession of the land and the status of the dispute with the original owner. The Pune office also requested instructions from headquarters as to its future course of action.
A senior official from MIDC said that the disputed land has been in the corporation’s possession since 1997. “The original owner has opposed the land acquisition proceedings and has refused compensation. The dispute is being heard by the Bombay High Court,” the official said. The MIDC official added that the land had even been allocated to a few industries.
On Monday, Pune-based builder Hemant Gavande alleged that Khadse misused his power to buy a piece of land owned by the MIDC in the name of his wife and son-in-law. Gavande alleged that the market value of the three-acre land in Bhosari was approximately Rs 40 crore, but Khadse purchased it from the original owner at a throwaway price of Rs 4 crore.
Gavande alleged that the land was purchased on April 28, 2016, from the original owner Abbas Ukani, a resident of West Bengal, keeping its present owner, MIDC in the dark. Khadse, in an interview to Mirror on May 24, claimed that the land was earmarked for an industrial park by MIDC in 1971 but it was never acquired by the MIDC and there was no dispute between MIDC and the original owner of the land, Abbas Ukani. “Compsensation was not paid to Ukani. He continues to own the land,” Khadse said.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis handed over investigations into the alleged phonecalls from Dawood’s residence in Karachi to Khadse to the Anti-Terrorism Squad.
