HC notice to MADC on land allotment scam in MIHAN-SEZ-Hitavada

HC notice to MADC on land allotment scam in MIHAN-SEZ-Hitavada

*PIL filed by Citizens Forum slams MADC for allotting 10 acre land free to First City

**R C Sinha’s role in allotting land at a throwaway price to Satyam under fire

Staff Reporter

Role of Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) Vice-Chairman and Managing Director R C Sinha in allotment of land to realty majors in MIHAN-SEZ came under fire in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Citizens Forum alleging massive irregularities, arbitrariness in land allotment to several companies. The Forum has demanded judicial inquiry to probe illegalities committed by MADC and its top officials.

The PIL has filed by Citizens Forum through its president Baba Dawre, also demanded an impartial inquiry against MADC for its decision to allot 10 acre land free of cost to M/s Reatox Builders and Developers which is coming up with First City project within MIHAN-SEZ area.

A division bench consisting of Justice Sharad Bobde and Justice Mridula Bhatkar after a brief motion hearing issued notices to Central Government, State Government, MADC through its Vice-Chairman and MD R C Sinha, Divisional Commissioner and District Collector.

For MIHAN-SEZ, a large tract of agricultural land of various villages in Nagpur taluka mainly Sonegaon, Shivangaon, Somalwada, Chinchbhuvan, Telhara, Parsodi, Khapri, Issasani, Jaitala, Dahegaon, Kalkuhi and same has been disposed-off at very fluctuating price by adopting pick and choose policy, PIL stated. This was done with an ulterior motive to favour particular companies, the petitioner alleged.

The MADC did not follow any process and price was determined as per whims and fancies of the authorities for their personal gain, the PIL alleged. Pointing out two specific examples of alleged favouritism the petitioner-organisation stated that M/s Satyam Computers was allotted 128.06 acre land for Rs 19 lakh per acre when the prevailing market price was ten times more. The land was allotted in such a manner so as to allow Satyam Computers to exclusively use Telhara lake spread over 100 acre.

R C Sinha was earlier Chairman of a company called MAYTAS which was sister concerned of Satyam Computer Service. As soon as fraud committed by Satyam came to light, Sinha resigned from MAYTAS, the PIL stated while raising a doubt about his role in allotment of land to Satyam and other companies.

Adv Abhay Sambre appearing for the petitioner told the High Court that MADC had allotted 10 acre land free of cost to M/s Reatox Builders in lieu of curtailment in height. Even the Comptroller and Auditor General of India had raised serious objection over the MADC’s decision to allot land to Satyam for peanuts. The PIL specifically charged MADC with allotting land at a very low cost to companies which were being favoured by MADC without any justifiable reason. Though such illegalities have been pointed out on several occasions, the State Government has not taken any action against MADC officials.

The PIL has urged the High Court to appoint judicial committee to enquire into illegalities committed by MADC top officials in land allotment, enquiry against MADC for allotting land to companies like Satyam and Reatox free of cost and also a direction to stay further allotment of land during pendency of the petition.

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