Superstar Amitabh Bachchan may be prosecuted if it is found that he acquired farmland near Pune through fraudulent means, Revenue Minister Narayan Rane said on Saturday.
Rane’s comments came a day after a court in Uttar Pradesh (UP) dismissed an appeal by Bachchan against an order cancelling the transfer of a piece of land in that state, in his name. The cancellation had been made on the grounds that he was not a farmer in UP.
The same reason may now cause Bachchan’s purchase of agricultural land in Maval taluka in Pune, some 170 km from Mumbai, to come under the scanner.
The Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act makes it necessary for a person to be a farmer to purchase agricultural land in the state.
“If it is found that he (Bachchan) is not a farmer then the government will take back the (Pune) land and file a case,” Rane said.
The court in Faizabad, UP, on Friday said the allotment of farmland in a village in Barabanki district by the previous government of Mulayam Singh Yadav was an act of forgery.
Bachchan had, a few months ago, used the allotment of about 70,000 sq ft land in Barabanki as a testimonial to establish his credentials as a farmer before the Pune administration.
The Pune District Collector in March had written to the Barabanki District Magistrate for authentication of Bachchan’s claim.
{{/usCountry}}The Pune District Collector in March had written to the Barabanki District Magistrate for authentication of Bachchan’s claim.
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