top of page

By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Multi-Crore ‘Land Jihad’ unearthed

Lawyer reclaims grabbed properties, exposes administrative lapses Advocate Sanjeev Deshpande Mumbai: In Bhusaval, a glaring example of what is being termed ‘Land Jihad’ has recently been brought to light, exposing a systematic grab of prime real estate worth hundreds of crores. At the center of this revelation is a hard-fought legal victory that successfully vacated ill-intentioned occupants from a plush property, prompting urgent calls for the administration to remain vigilant against...

Multi-Crore ‘Land Jihad’ unearthed

Lawyer reclaims grabbed properties, exposes administrative lapses Advocate Sanjeev Deshpande Mumbai: In Bhusaval, a glaring example of what is being termed ‘Land Jihad’ has recently been brought to light, exposing a systematic grab of prime real estate worth hundreds of crores. At the center of this revelation is a hard-fought legal victory that successfully vacated ill-intentioned occupants from a plush property, prompting urgent calls for the administration to remain vigilant against fraudulent land acquisitions. The catalyst for uncovering this massive scam was a protracted legal battle fought by the Central Cine Circuit Association (CCCA), an organisation comprising over 800 film distributors across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan. Seeking a headquarters and guest house for their traveling members, the CCCA purchased a sprawling 5,000-square-foot bungalow in a prime locality in Bhusaval from a senior Parsi individual residing in Mumbai. Although the sale deed was executed in 1993, the notice of ownership change inexplicably failed to reach or was ignored by the local city survey office. This administrative blind spot lay dormant until 2024, when the family of one Afzal Kalu Gawali forcibly entered the premises and took illegal possession of the property. Physical Muscle Lacking the physical muscle to evict the encroachers, the CCCA was forced into an agonising two-year legal marathon spearheaded by Advocate Sanjeev Deshpande. The fight demanded navigating a labyrinth of government offices, from the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and Bhusaval Sessions Court to the revenue tribunal, the High Court, and even Mantralaya. The process involved digging through decades-old records, exposing forged documents, and pleading with officials to rectify the injustice. The persistence finally paid off when the SDM ruled in favor of the CCCA on April 9, 2026. When the illegal occupants still refused to leave, police intervention was secured to forcibly vacate the premises, allowing CCCA employees to finally re-enter their headquarters on April 16 after a gap of nearly two years, said Sanjay Surana, president of CCCA. Fight Continues For Deshpande, the fight is far from over. During his exhaustive hunt for documents, he uncovered a deeply disturbing and systematic pattern of land grabbing operating in the region. The conmen utilised a calculated modus operandi. They tactfully acquired a power of attorney from the descendants of the original Parsi owners and forged purchase documents. Shockingly, the paperwork claimed that the CCCA bungalow, currently valued at around Rs 5 crore, was purchased by daily wage earners for a mere Rs 6 lakh. Deshpande discovered that this same syndicate had successfully encroached upon other highly valuable plots, including a six-acre cemetery (Aramgah) belonging to the Parsi Anjuman Fund and a significant parcel of land owned by the Masonic Lodge, an international religious institute. In total, the collective value of these illegally grabbed properties is estimated to easily surpass Rs 300 crore. The Masonic Lodge property is back to rightful owners after a battle at the High Court. But, for the Aramgah property, still much needs to be done, he said. This staggering real estate heist points to a severe breakdown in administrative oversight. Deshpande strongly emphasises that if the office of the Sub-Registrar at Bhusaval had conducted even a preliminary inquiry or verified the glaringly disproportionate financial details of these transactions, the fraudulent nature of the sales would have been immediately apparent.

Goda-Narmada Jal Yatra flagged off

CM says state will be ‘drought-free’

Mumbai: In a soulful blend of faith, history and futuristic governance, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reiterated his regime’s commitment to making the state  ‘drought-free’, flagging off a grant ‘Goda to Narmada Jal Yatra-2026” on Saturday from the temple town of Trimbakeshwar in Nashik district.

 

The water pilgrimage, as it is called - starts from the origins of Godavari, second longest river, till the banks of the Narmada, fifth longest river of India, in Madhya Pradesh with a clarion call to kickstart water conservation and sustainable development efforts.

 

“We are working on a major river interlinking project to make Maharashtra drought-free. Development must move in step with preserving cultural and ecological heritage,” Fadnavis said.

 

Taking inspiration from the legendary Punyashlok Queen Ahilyabai Holkar, he called her visionary leadership, contributions to water conservation from wells and stepwells to river management systems, which remain relevant centuries later.

 

“Ahilyabai Holkar’s work reminds us that respecting rivers as living entities is essential for sustainable growth,” said Fadnavis, praising her vision and governance model, on her 300 birth anniversary celebrations and the International Year of Woman Farmer.

 

Harking to the great rulers of the state like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, he said that Ahilyabai Holkar occupies a place among the greatest of sovereigns who took over the reins of the state administration at a very young age after the death of her husband Khanderao Holkar and her father-in-law Malharrao Holkar, the founder of the Holkar Dynasty of central India, with its capital Indore.

 

“After the Mughal invaders damaged temples of Trimbakeshwar, Somnath, Kashi Vishwanath of Rameshwar, she rebuilt them with courage and commitment. Simultaneously, her work in water conservation is important. Even today, the water storage structures built by her are in good condition, and we shall preserve them,” said Fadnavis.

 

Elaborating, he said that Ahilyabai Holksar created a separate stream of River Narmada in Maheshwar for daily use so that the main river could flow clean and unpolluted. She considered rivers as goddesses and mothers, and accorded importance to them including Godavari, Yamuna and others.

 

Dwelling on her social reforms, the CM said she prioritised women’s education and employment through initiatives like the ‘Maheshwari Sari’, established one of the earliest women’s military units, integrated tribal communities into the social mainstream and implemented stringent law-and-order.

 

The yatra was launched with senior ministers like Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Girish Mahajan, and Chhagan Bhujbal, and others witnessing ceremonial rituals of ‘Kanya Pujan’, the worship of the River Godavari.

 

Spiritual guru Parampujya Gurumauli Annasaheb More of Shri Swami Samarth Seva Kendra, Nashik presided over the event while Yuvraj Maharaj Yeshwant Holkar Bahadur of the Indore royal family and 16th descendent of Ahilyabai Holkar was also present on the occasion.

 

Water collected from 30 rivers in the state will be carried in ceremonial urns (Kalash) to Maheshwar, the historic capital of Ahilyabai Holkar, and another procession, flagged off by Deputy CM Eknath Shinde and Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde, is carrying the sacred soil from her birthplace, Chaundi.

 

The twin yatras shall converge at Shirdi on Sunday, where special cultural, spiritual, and awareness programmes engaging citizens are lined up. Over the next four days, the processions shall traverse through Nashik, Sangamner, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and end on April 29 at Maheshwar on the banks of River Narmada – a significant development in the run-up to next year’s Nashik Kumbh Mela.

 

The state’s push for river interlinking, he said, will play a critical role in addressing regional water disparities and securing long-term water availability.

 

The yatras will see participation of around 500, including Warkaris, youth groups, farmers and volunteers, while water conservation experts, NGOs, and local communities are contributing to make it a platform for awareness, dialogue, and grassroots action.

 

Abode of a Jyotirling
Trimbakeshwar in Nashik is revered as the abode of one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. The unique feature of this Jyotirling is the Linga in the temple is three-faced embodying the Tridev - Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.
 
The River Godavari, often called the Dakshin Ganga, originates from the lush green hills surrounding this picturesque and famed pilgrimage town.

Comments

bottom of page