‘Wives of Uddhav, Waikar bought land in Raigad’

Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam on Tuesday alleged that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s wife Rashmi and party minister Ravindra Waikar’s wife Manisha had jointly purchased 18.50 lakh sq ft of land or about 42.5 acres worth Rs125 crore at Korlai in Raigad and more than 450 acres valued at Rs900crore elsewhere in the Konkan.

Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam on Tuesday alleged that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s wife Rashmi and party minister Ravindra Waikar’s wife Manisha had jointly purchased 18.50 lakh sq ft of land or about 42.5 acres worth Rs125 crore at Korlai in Raigad and more than 450 acres valued at Rs900crore elsewhere in the Konkan.

Nirupam said the land was purchased in the name of Rashmi Thackeray and Manisha Waikar since 2002-03 and during the three terms of Waikar as standing committee chairman in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation ruled by the Sena.

Waikar rubbished Nirupam’s allegations but admitted that they had bought 9.5 acres at Korlai for Rs4.5 crore. While there was no response from the Thackerays, the Shiv Sena’s spokespersons slammed Nirupam and said his allegations did not merit a response. At a press conference on Tuesday, Nirupam brandished copies of what he claimed was the land title for the Korlai plot and said the land was in the name of Rashmi Thackeray and Manisha Waikar since 2002-03.

Nirupam said the land was purchased in the name of Rashmi Thackeray and Manisha Waikar since 2002-03 and during the three terms of Waikar as standing committee chairman in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation ruled by the Sena. Civic standing committee has financial rights in the civic body’s decision making process.

He claimed that it was due to the joint ventures between the two families, the decision of extending clean chit to Waikar was taken during the meeting between chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray over dinner on the eve of commencement of the Monsoon Session.

Nirupam said the government should probe the source of income of those who purchased land in such a large quantity. Further, claiming that Rashmi’s uncle was a partner in one of the real estate firms once headed by Waikar, he demanded a probe by a sitting judge of the Bombay High Court into various allegations levelled against Waikar, who is minister of state for housing.

“The CM has misled the people of Maharashtra by saying on the floor of the assembly that Waikar’s name exists in none of the slum rehabilitation authority projects cited by us. In fact, the links with the front companies floated by the minister clearly shows that Waikar is still on the board of the real estate firm Vijayalaxmi Infracon, floated as a front company of Vijaylaxmi Developers. One of the four partners in the firm is Dilip Shrungarpure, who happens to be the maternal uncle of Rashmi Thackeray. Though anybody is free to do business or purchase land with any partner, it is matter of conflict of interest.” Nirupam said.

Waikar rubbished all allegations. “As far as the ownership in the real estate company is concerned, I quit my position in March this year after I realised that a minister cannot hold an office of profit. It may not have been updated on the website of the union ministry of corporate affairs.”

On the land deal, Waikar said, “It is just 9.5 acres purchased for Rs 4.5 crore. I am ready to give up the entire amount if the land fetches Rs125 crore as claimed by Nirupam. Secondly, no law stops any two persons from entering into any legitimate land deal.”

On the allegations, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis refused to comment. He however said, “Anybody can buy land in partnership with whoever he/she wishes.”