In a sweeping move to combat land fraud, Pune Collector Jitendra Dudi has mandated comprehensive physical inspections of every government land parcel across the district. This unprecedented verification drive comes as a direct response to a series of fraudulent deed registrations that exposed significant vulnerabilities in the current monitoring system.
Massive Scandal Triggers Action
The district administration's decision follows the Mundhwa land deal irregularities that brought to light glaring loopholes in land documentation and monitoring. Officials revealed that the verification exercise has been ongoing for the past three months, with a consolidated report expected soon.
According to district administration sources, the irregularities were allegedly carried out with the involvement or negligence of revenue department employees. Police complaints have been filed against several employees, particularly in connection with the Mundhwa case where investigators discovered large government plots were misappropriated using bogus documents and fabricated ownership claims.
Outdated Records Enable Fraud
Officials acknowledged that outdated revenue records and poor verification checks created opportunities for manipulation. A significant portion of the affected land falls under occupancy class-II, which cannot be sold, mortgaged, or transferred without government approval.
In 2019, the state government introduced a policy under then revenue minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil that permitted conversion of class-II land to class-I after payment of a prescribed premium. However, several entities bypassed this requirement, executing transactions without permission or paying dues - a situation made possible by incomplete land records.
Comprehensive Verification Process
Revenue teams have been directed to conduct thorough on-site inspections that include:
- Physical mapping of each land parcel
- Photographic documentation
- Identification of encroachments
- Verification against record of rights
- Preparation of detailed panchnama
- Checking for illegal construction or unauthorized commercial use
Collector Dudi emphasized that the drive aims to bring the entire government land inventory into clear, updated and enforceable shape. Numerous parcels across Pune city and rural areas have been leased to educational institutions, social trusts, or housing societies with strict conditions that will now be verified.
Where violations are found, the administration will immediately take back the land. In confirmed cases of misappropriation, the government will restore its name in revenue records, initiate recovery of outstanding land tax or premium, and begin eviction proceedings.
Digital Solutions for Future Protection
Senior officials revealed that the administration is working on introducing a digital tracking mechanism to prevent fraudulent deals in the future. The proposed system would ensure that every transaction involving occupancy class-II land automatically shows up for scrutiny, effectively closing existing gaps in the monitoring process.
This extensive land verification drive represents one of the most comprehensive efforts in recent years to secure government assets and ensure proper land management in Pune district.
