The Gujarat government has scrapped a land deal and declared the controversial Surat land deal as null and void after reports of large-scale corruption and kickbacks. A Rs 100 crore plus land exclusively reserved for cattle grazing was sold off for a mere Rs 24.31 crores in Surat. With the cancellation of the land deal, the BJP Government in Gujarat has tacitly admitted that the deal reeked of corruption, was wrong and several fake documents were fabricated to facilitate it.
The District Collector has launched an investigation into this land dispute announcing that an order has been issued to cancel the land deed. The order has also mandated maintaining the status quo and prohibited any alterations to the land.
The village committee that managed the land Magob Village Samast Organisation violated conditions and converted the purpose of land. Now, the land deal has been cancelled and the land has been again shown as government-owned.
District Collector Dr Saurabh Pardhi confirmed to Vibes of India that the investigation has been assigned to the provincial officer, with a report to be prepared and submitted to the government following its conclusion.
A 100 crore land reserved for cow grazing was intentionally devalued and siphoned off to private individuals. The 100 crore plus land, which cannot be used for any private purpose as per the government rule was sold at just Rs 24.31 crores in Magob village of Puna taluka in Surat district of Gujarat. Stamp duty documents of Rs 1.70 crore were prepared and paid for this to arrive at the land cost. Sources claim that kickbacks of over Rs five crores could have been offered to two officials for the land scam.
In a meticulously planned conspiracy, which is not possible without the involvement of government officials, the purpose of land, the value of land, fake documentation, undervalued stamp duty imposition was done to facilitate the scam. This caused a huge loss to the public exchequer.
This Surat cow grazing land scam is the latest in the BJP’s long list of land-related scams. Land price in Surat in Gujarat is one of the most costly but fake reports and connivance of government officers with the land mafia has been resulting in huge losses to the government exchequer.
Speaking to Vibes of India, Isudan Gadhvi, the Aam Aadmi Party’s State President said, “BJP leaders, officials, and cadres have allegedly occupied significant portions of land across Gujarat, including attempts to indirectly take over land in Surat. Critics argue that the government cannot claim ignorance of these activities, pointing to instances where Gauchar (grazing) lands have reportedly been handed over to industrialists. It is alarming that such incidents occur in the area of CR Patil, a Union Minister. The recurring reports of land-grabbing cases involving Gauchar lands have prompted calls for accountability and raised questions about the government’s role. It is estimated that a thorough investigation could potentially reclaim lands worth over ₹3 lakh crore across Gujarat.”
The prized land reserved for cow grazing in Magob village of Puna Taluka of Surat district in South Gujarat (survey number 3-B, block number 156) was marked as government land which cannot be sold for anything private.
The 7891 square metre plot originally kept reserved for cattle grazing was first “acquired ” by the government to construct a canal. After the purpose of the land was changed, later, it was devalued and sold to two locals at one-fourth cost. Sources claim they the local buyers could be a facade for some rich powerful land mafia whose name has yet not been revealed.
Two officials from the managing institution and originally, this land was registered under the Magob Village Samast Trust of the government. Then a fake resolution was drafted reportedly by Rajendrasinh Pratapsinh Gohil, a trustee of Magob Village Samast, along with five other members of the trust. This resolution, which was adopted unanimously, first changes the purpose of land and then its sale. This 100 crore plus worth of land was given away for Rs 24.31 crores. The new land deed shows Ketan Fatesinh Gohil and Mahesh Virambhai Barot as the owners of the government land. The new land deal was done on November 3.
“This is nothing new; such incidents keep happening under the BJP government, particularly in Surat and Ahmedabad. With land values rising daily, an internal committee manipulates the system, gambling on land deals and pressuring government officials to finalise them. Over the past 2–3 years, there have been more than seven cases of land scams.” Congress Spokesperson, Surat, Naishad Desai told Vibes of India.
After this dubious land deal was completed, a Town Planning (TP) scheme was announced leading to a price surge in the area.
Sources say culprits had insider knowledge that due to the new TP Scheme No. 64, land prices would soar. The sources added that the entire conspiracy would have taken at least eight months from conception to execution. A local non-mainstream media in Surat exposed this scam first leading others including Vibes of India to probe into it.
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