How a top Gujarat builder, close to BJP, "illegally" became farmer to gobble up prime agricultural land

One of the resorts off Ahmedabad: Representative image

By Our Representative
In a typical case of how Gujarat’s real estate developers bypass existing laws to become farmers to quietly buy up prime agricultural land dirt cheap, a top builder, known to have developed sprawling residential townships, resorts and golf clubs off Ahmedabad for the rich and powerful, including politicians and bureaucrats, officially became the successor of an OBC farmer to illegally acquire real estate property.
On becoming a ‘farmer’, the builder, whose surname is Shah, and belongs to a dominant caste, bought up more than 70 hectares of land at 32 different locations at several prime locations of Ahmedabad district, between the proposed Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) and the new industrial hub of Sanand, which became famous after Tata Nano shifted from West Bengal to Gujarat.
Bringing the builder’s case in light on the basis of official documents, Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil told media in Ahmedabad, “Bypassing all laws, this builder, who happens to be close to top ruling BJP politicians, became the inheritor of a farmer, thus becoming ‘legally’ liable to buy up agricultural land without needing to pay any taxes, and all in cash.”
Claiming that the current price of different plots of land which this builder, known to be one of top organizers of Gujarat’s Vibrant Gujarat world business summits, bought up is around Rs 2,000 crore, Gohil said, he became a ‘farmer’ in 1997 by obtaining the hereditary certificate from the agriculturist, who belonged to Mehmedabad in Kheda district, situated about 20 km off Ahmedabad.
Documents handed over by Gohil show that the district collector, Kheda, had asked the district police chief in his letter dated March 20, 2015, to start criminal proceedings against the builder for coming up with false hereditary certificate of a farmer in order to buy up agricultural land.

Gohil

The district collector’s letter said, based on a complaint by one Samirsinh Chhatrasinh Vaghela, the district land vigilance committee has found that Devangbhai Dineshbhai’s name was inserted as the successor of Gagaji Jamaji’s land, Survey No 92, village Gokalpura, taluka Mehmedabad, by creating a false certificate of agriculturist.
An official inquiry document to prove how “forged” hereditary certificate was created shows that the surname of the farmer Parmar, and of the builder Shah, “was deliberately not jotted down.” Signed by the deputy collector, Kheda, it wondered, “How can a Shah be a successor of a Parmar?”
Earlier, on December 26, 2014, additional resident collector, Kheda, in a letter to mamlatdar, a taluka-level revenue official, said that the district land vigilance committee had used harsh words like “forgery” and “cheating” for creating false hereditary certificate for the builder. “A non-agriculturist, he has illegally became a farmer”, the letter said, seeking criminal proceedings against the builder.
Alleged Gohil, “Despite a clear case of forgery and cheating, even two decades later no FIR has been registered. I do not have any proof, yet I am sure, the police did not go ahead because of pressure from the ruling BJP leaders.”
Declaring that the Congress is putting forward the scam for public scrutiny, Gohil said, the BJP rulers’ “indifference” towards a clear case of forgery and cheating is shocking. “We call upon those interested to file public interest litigation (PIL) in this case. I, as Gujarat High Court advocate, will provide all necessary assistance”, he added.
Asked why he was not filing a PIL, he said, “Political parties, as a rule, do not file PILs."

Comments

Uma said…

....and they beat up Muslims for "usurping" land on which they pray...wah!

May 05, 2018

Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan raises concerns over Jharkhand Adivasis' plight in Assam, BJP policies

By Our Representative The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Campaign) has issued a pressing call to protect Adivasi rights in Jharkhand, highlighting serious concerns over the treatment of Jharkhandi Adivasis in Assam. During a press conference in Ranchi on November 9, representatives from Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh criticized the current approach of BJP-led governments in these states, arguing it has exacerbated Adivasi struggles for rights, land, and cultural preservation.

Promoting love or instilling hate and fear: Why is RSS seeking a meeting with Rahul Gandhi?

By Ram Puniyani* India's anti-colonial struggle was marked by a diverse range of social movements, one of the most significant being Hindu-Muslim unity and the emergence of a unified Indian identity among people of all religions. The nationalist, anti-colonial movement championed this unity, best embodied by Mahatma Gandhi, who ultimately gave his life for this cause. Gandhi once wrote, “The union that we want is not a patched-up thing but a union of hearts... Swaraj (self-rule) for India must be an impossible dream without an indissoluble union between the Hindus and Muslims of India. It must not be a mere truce... It must be a partnership between equals, each respecting the religion of the other.”

Right-arm fast bowler who helped West Indies shape arguably greatest Test team in cricket history

By Harsh Thakor* Malcolm Marshall redefined what it meant to be a right-arm fast bowler, challenging the traditional laws of biomechanics with his unique skill. As we remember his 25th death anniversary on November 4th, we reflect on the legacy he left behind after his untimely death from colon cancer. For a significant part of his career, Marshall was considered one of the fastest and most formidable bowlers in the world, helping to shape the West Indies into arguably the greatest Test team in cricket history.

Andhra team joins Gandhians to protest against 'bulldozer action' in Varanasi

By Rosamma Thomas* November 1 marked the 52nd day of the 100-day relay fast at the satyagraha site of Rajghat in Varanasi, seeking the restoration of the 12 acres of land to the Sarva Seva Sangh, the Gandhian organization that was evicted from the banks of the river. Twelve buildings were demolished as the site was abruptly taken over by the government after “bulldozer” action in August 2023, even as the matter was pending in court.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad* On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

Will Bangladesh go Egypt way, where military ruler is in power for a decade?

By Vijay Prashad* The day after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, I was on the phone with a friend who had spent some time on the streets that day. He told me about the atmosphere in Dhaka, how people with little previous political experience had joined in the large protests alongside the students—who seemed to be leading the agitation. I asked him about the political infrastructure of the students and about their political orientation. He said that the protests seemed well-organized and that the students had escalated their demands from an end to certain quotas for government jobs to an end to the government of Sheikh Hasina. Even hours before she left the country, it did not seem that this would be the outcome.

A Marxist intellectual who dwelt into complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape

By Harsh Thakor* Professor Manoranjan Mohanty has been a dedicated advocate for human rights over five decades. His work as a scholar and activist has supported revolutionary democratic movements, navigating complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape. His balanced, non-partisan approach to human rights and social justice has made his books essential resources for advocates of democracy.

Tributes paid to pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, who 'dodged' police for 60 yrs

By Harsh Thakor* Jagjit Singh Sohal, known as Comrade Sharma, a pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, passed away on October 20 at the age of 96. Committed to the Naxalite cause and a prominent Maoist leader, Sohal, who succeeded Charu Majumdar, played hide and seek with the police for almost six decades. He was cremated in Patiala.

Search This Blog