Forget loopholes in the process of land acquisition and other ambiguities. As guardian of government lands in Maharashtra, it was Ekanath Khadse's duty to protect the interest of the state and not to allow anybody to grab the land under the garb of sundry excuses. As per Indian express days before his family members bought a three-acre plot in Bhosari near Pune from a private party, Maharashtra Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse held a meeting with officials from the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and the revenue department at which the compensation to be given to the original owner under the state’s Land Acquisition Act was discussed. The way things took place in last few months in this case is nothing but a clear case of corruption, underhand dealing , misuse of power and abuse of court procedure.
Khadse had purchased three-acre land in Bhosari for a throwaway price at approximately Rs 3.75 crore from the original owner in the name of his wife Mandakini and son-in-law Girish Chaudhary. The market value of the land was Rs 40 crore. While executing the document of this deal several sections of the registration act have been violated by the Minister , his family and officials working under Minister.
The land Khadse has purchased belongs to MIDC and consists of open space and industrial plots that MIDC has leased to some Industries 40 years back. So the question of using this land for any other purpose doesn't arise at all. There may be doubt about whether or not acquisition process had been completed or not. However , in any case Khadse was not supposed to purchase this land and claim for the compensation . This is nothing but a misuse of power.
The way khadse is defending his action, in this case, there is no doubt he is going to land in trouble in next few days.The only question is, which way he his heading former chief minister of Maharastra Manohar Joshi or former deputy chief minister Chagan Bhujbal ?
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