PIMPRI, 15 NOV. Following the case of illegal sale of Mahar Vatan land in Kondhwa, a similar incident has come to light regarding the sale of 15 acres and 32 Gunthas (6.32 hectares) of government land belonging to the State Government's Animal Husbandry Department in Tathawade. The Animal Husbandry Department approached the police and filed a complaint against the Sub-Registrar who registered the deed, as well as those involved in the sale and purchase of the land. Consequently, a case has been filed against 26 individuals.
Dr. Amol Sharad Aher, the Manager of the Government Animal Breeding Farm in Tathawade, filed the complaint at the Dapodi Police Station. A case has been registered against 23 people who sold the land, two people who purchased the land, and Joint Sub-Registrar Vidya Shankar Bade-Sangle who registered the document.
According to the police, the sale of 6 hectares and 32 Gunthas of land in Gat Number 20 of Tathawade came to light during an inspection by the Animal Husbandry Department. The sellers falsely showed this land as belonging to Heramb Pandharinath Gupchup earlier. Notably, the 'Satbara' extract (land record) for this land bears an official remark: 'Possession of the Commissioner of Animal Husbandry, purchase/sale prohibited without prior government permission.'
Despite this clear notation, the land was sold for ₹33 crore by attaching old Satbara extracts. The land was purchased by two individuals. This purchase was registered at the Dapodi Sub-Registrar's office on January 9, 2025. The deed registration was facilitated by Joint Sub-Registrar Vidya Shankar Bade-Sangle.
Legal Battle and Illegal Registration
The Animal Husbandry Department immediately brought the matter to the attention of the Divisional Commissioner upon learning about the sale deed registration. Following instructions, an investigation by the Registration and Stamp Duty Department confirmed the illegal transaction. It was revealed that the previous land owner had executed a registered agreement to sell (Sathe Khat) for the 15 acres of land in Tathawade in 2023. Simultaneously, a case was submitted to the Tehsildar to apply for heir registration. The Tehsildar then ruled that the land belonged to the Animal Husbandry Department.
The land owner challenged the Tehsildar's ruling in the High Court. In 2024, the court ruled in favour of the land owner, but noted that the Tehsildar had not followed due process. Crucially, the court did not issue any clear orders regarding the ownership of the land. Thus, the name of the Animal Husbandry Department remained on the Satbara extract. Subsequently, in January 2025, the land owner attached the 2023 Satbara extracts and registered the deed. The illegal transaction came to light only after the Animal Husbandry Department noticed the activity.
The Animal Husbandry Department lodged a complaint with the police, seeking to file a fraud case against the 26 individuals, including the Sub-Registrar. After an inquiry, the case has been officially filed. Manager of the Government Animal Breeding Farm, Amol Aher, stated that the department was unaware of the sale of the 6.32 hectares of land and has applied to the Inspector General of Registration to have the transaction annulled.
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