Submit revenue record of plot ‘bought’ by Rane’s wife: HC

The controversy surrounding an 82,764-sq ft plot at Mahabaleshwar may be resolved soon.

The controversy surrounding an 82,764-sq ft plot at Mahabaleshwar may be resolved soon.v

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The Bombay high court on Monday sought the revenue records pertaining to the plot belonging to a temple trust and allegedly acquired by revenue minister Narayan Rane’s wife illegally. The division bench of justice VC Daga and justice RG Ketkar asked SK Shinde, special counsel for the state government, to submit the revenue record concerned within a week. The court was hearing a petition filed by Shri Mahabaleshwar Deveasthan Trust.

On January 7, Shinde had offered to withdraw the order issued by a desk officer in the revenue and forest department under which the plot measuring 76 gunthas (82,764-sq ft) was alienated and allotted to Mahesh Panchal, a resident of Vasai. Rane’s wife, Nilima, purportedly purchased the plot from Panchal. Pointing out that the primary contention raised on behalf of the trust was that they were not heard before passing the order of alienation, the special counsel said the revenue authorities would hear all concerned and pass a fresh order.

Counsel for the trust, Nitin Jamdar, opposed the move saying this was not the only contention in the petition. “For ensuring rule of law, it is necessary to scrutinise the revenue record,” said Jamdar, who appeared along with Vijay Killedar. The bench directed Shinde to produce the record by January 17, when the matter will next be heard.

The high court has already restrained Nilima from carrying out any development work on the plot or creating any third party rights in it. The court has also stayed operation of the order issued by desk officer PS Kamble in March 2008.

The sub-divisional officer had stated that the plot could not be alienated without approval of the charity commissioner. The trust has alleged the entire exercise of seeking reports from the sub-divisional officer and Satara collector was undertaken to regularise and ratify the sale transaction between Panchal and Nilima.