Nagpur Land Scandal Triggers Official Suspension After Assembly Exposé
A major controversy over the alleged illegal sale of public utility land in a cooperative housing society in Nagpur rural has resulted in the suspension of an assistant registrar. The action was taken after Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar raised the explosive issue in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Friday, demanding accountability for the irregularities.
Minister Admits Flawed Inquiry, Announces Suspension
The state's cooperation minister publicly admitted that the inquiry report submitted in the matter was fundamentally flawed and announced the immediate suspension of the assistant registrar concerned. In a significant assurance, the minister pledged that a detailed investigation into the role of the Besa Nagar Panchayat chief officer and other implicated officials would be completed within one month, with appropriate disciplinary action to follow.
Details of the Alleged Illegal Land Sale
The scandal centers on the Anand Cooperative Housing Society in Nagpur. A plot measuring 11,107 square feet, explicitly earmarked for public infrastructure and utility purposes, was allegedly sold in blatant violation of established planning norms and regulations.
Leader Vijay Wadettiwar presented a detailed account to the Assembly, stating:
- The land was originally reserved for critical public utilities, including the installation of a transformer.
- The society's secretary allegedly orchestrated the sale of this public utility land through illicit financial dealings to a private plot holder.
- "The PU land was sold illegally for monetary gains," Wadettiwar asserted in the House, calling for strict action against all involved officials.
Questioning Official Records and Approval Processes
Wadettiwar sharply criticized the validity of the initial inquiry report submitted by the authorities. He highlighted a critical jurisdictional change: when the area was under the Besa gram panchayat, the society's approved layout plan clearly designated two plots for public utilities. However, after Besa was upgraded to a Nagar Panchayat, it was discovered that the reserved land had been sold, contravening the legally approved layout plan.
The Congress leader leveled serious allegations, claiming that the Besa Nagar Panchayat chief officer made incorrect and fraudulent entries in the official land records. He demanded comprehensive disciplinary action, not only against the officials responsible for preparing the flawed report but also against those who approved the irregular and potentially illegal records.
This case underscores ongoing concerns about governance and land management irregularities in cooperative housing sectors, prompting calls for systemic reforms and greater transparency in Maharashtra's urban and rural development authorities.
