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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.

Strategies for Prevention of Violence in Healthcare

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

Strategies for Prevention of Violence in Healthcare

Reports of physical and verbal violence at healthcare institutes are regularly reported across India. In some instances, mobs have resorted to arson, destroying costly equipment. An Indian Medical Association (IMA) study found that over 75% of doctors have faced workplace violence. The ghastly rape and murder of a resident doctor at Kolkatta’s R.G. Kar hospital stands out as one of the most gruesome of these.

Despite the Union Health Minister’s promise of a central act to prevent such violence, no legislation has been enacted.

Violence against doctors is not exclusive to India. In the US, Dr. Michael Davidson, director of endovascular cardiac surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, was killed by Stephen Pasceri, who blamed Dr. Davidson for his mother’s death. Similarly, violence against nurses in the US is commonplace. According to a study, nearly a million attacks, some extremely violent, against healthcare institutes are reported in China annually.

To prevent such violence, almost 29 states in India, including Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Punjab, and Delhi, have enacted legal provisions in the last few years. As per this Act, violence means activities causing any harm, injury, or endangering the life or intimidation, obstruction, or hindrance to any healthcare service person in the discharge of duty in the healthcare service institution or damage or loss to property in the healthcare service institution. The healthcare service persons include registered medical practitioners working in healthcare institutions (including those having provisional registration), registered nurses, medical students, nursing students, and para-medical workers employed and working in medical service institutions. The Act provides stringent punishment, including imprisonment and a fine, as well as double the amount of damage as compensation to the institute. These stringent legal provisions do not permit bail for the accused. The Act also allows patients to lodge criminal complaints against doctors if they feel aggrieved. The Acts have not effectively deterred attackers, with few convictions reported.

Dr. Neeraj Nagpal, Medico-Legal Action Group, argues that a central act alone will not suffice. He suggests changes in the Indian Penal Code. In his opinion, the arrest of doctors under Section 304A of The IPC is a part of the problem of violence against doctors because invariably cross-FIRs are registered by the patient party and the doctor, which results in an inevitable compromise.

In public general hospitals, violence is usually targeted against young resident doctors. Analysis shows that incidents often happen during emergencies when senior doctors are absent and medical equipment is unavailable or not working. In a few incidents, resident doctors were reported to be under the influence of alcohol and allegedly misbehaved with their relatives.

Given these repeated violent incidents, I was tasked with devising a scheme for medical colleges-cum-hospitals run by the State Government of Maharashtra and Mumbai Corporation. With the medical superintendents, we noticed that trouble ignites in the emergency departments, or if a patient dies. Our resolution involved deploying armed contingents from the Maharashtra Security Force (MSF), equipping them with training and communication tools, and installing CCTV cameras, and restricting access. These measures have improved safety and a better focus on treatment for resident doctors.

These measures are just the beginning of a comprehensive approach. In part 2, we will explore additional solutions, including advanced security protocols, the role of training, and innovative practices to protect healthcare professionals and institutions further.


(The writer is a former DGP of Maharashtra. Views personal)

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