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Nagpur Today had flashed reports titled “Land mafia grabs 1000-acre Government land, creates illegal layouts, sells plots to thousands” and “More skeletons, worth crores, peep out from 1000-acre Govt land grab by mafia in district” wherein it was reported that the land mafia not only grabbed 1000-acre Government land in daylight but also sold hundreds of plots of the illegally carved layouts in a well-planned conspiracy. After Nagpur Today’s expose, the Dahegaon (Rangari) Gram Panchayat has turned into a battlefield and is surrounded by hundreds of people with intense worry writ large on their faces.
Nagpur News: After Nagpur Today’s expose of 1000-acre Government land grab by mafia, the Dahegaon (Rangari) Gram Panchayat has turned into a battlefield and is surrounded by hundreds of people with intense worry writ large on their faces. The people who laid a siege of the Gram Panchayat were the same who had purchased plots of dozens of layouts the land mafia had created illegally after grabbing the Government land in massive proportions and subsequently selling thousands of plots to prospective buyers. Hundreds of plot purchasers have lined up at Dahegaon (Rangari) Gram Panchayat to know the fate of their plots.
According to reports and sources, the Gram Panchayat has cancelled/rejected their plots. Till now, 800-1000 plots have been cancelled/rejected and process of cancelling/rejecting more than 4000 plots is under way.
It may be recalled, Nagpur Today had flashed reports titled “Land mafia grabs 1000-acre Government land, creates illegal layouts, sells plots to thousands” and “More skeletons, worth crores, peep out from 1000-acre Govt land grab by mafia in district” wherein it was reported that the land mafia not only grabbed 1000-acre Government land in daylight but also sold hundreds of plots of the illegally carved layouts in a well-planned conspiracy. The role of some higher and lower ranked employees has come under cloud in the entire sordid episode. The sources had said, the land mafia carved out illegal layouts from the 1000-acre land mostly belonging to Irrigation Department, Canal Department and Revenue Department in Mauja Dahegaon Rangari in Nagpur District. The sordid episode of grabbing of 1000-acre Government land by mafia and subsequent selling of thousands of plots from illegally carved out layouts is taking nasty turns and twists with each passing day. More and more digging is throwing more and more skeletons worth crores of rupees.
The flashing of reports triggered earthquake of sorts and jolted the plot purchasers to the core with epicenter being little known Dahegaon (Rangari) town near Khaparkheda coming under Saoner Assembly segment and Ramtek Lok Sabha constituency, hardly 18-20 km away from Nagpur, the Second Capital. The jolted buyers of plots started thronging Gram Panchyat office in hordes for knowing status of their plots. Some questions were pricking them: Were they the victims of a well-planned conspiracy and cheating by the land mafia? Are the plots they purchased illegal? And their fears come true. They were cheated and their plots were illegal only to be cancelled/rejected by the Gram Panchayat. All the people were producing their documents plot dealings before the Gram Panchyat and were eager to know the status of their plots. More than 250 families had mobbed the Gram Panchayat with anxiety and worry writ large on their faces.
In the meanwhile, another battle of sorts was being fought in Dahegaon (Rangari) town. Husband of Sarpanch Archana Chaudhari received a phone call from her stating that the former Sarpanch Ranjana Arvind Sarode has stormed into their house and has gone berserk and creating a ruckus. The fresh development in the sordid episode drew the attention of all people gathered at Gram Panchayat office and they rushed to the scene of “battle” between former and present Sarpanchs, both women. The former Sarpanch Ranjana Sarode was found creating bedlam in big way and abusing in filthy words. The people present at the scene anyhow pulled Ranjana out from Archana’s house and advised her to approach police if she has any grievances against Archana. Ranjana left the spot satisfied over her “Hungama.” According to sources, the Khaparkheda police have been informed about the incident.
It may be recalled, the Dahegaon (Rangari) Gram Panchayat was earlier ruled by Kedar group. However, the scam got exposed after deep scanning of documents perused by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) under the leadership of Kishore Chaudhary. NCP is now ruling the Dahegaon (Rangari) Gram Panchayat. According to reports, the then Block Development Officer (BDO), in a meeting of Gram Panchayat held in 2005, had ordered not to give sanction to illegal layouts coming under the Gram Panchayat. If the sanction has to be given, the land must first be converted into a non-agricultural land, the BDO order had said. However, the Dahegaon (Rangari) Sarpanch Ranjana Arvind Sarode, got a Resolution (No. 5/23) passed on December 27, 2005 and thereby permitted creation of layouts and selling of plots.
Approximatly 100 old and new layouts come under Dahegaon (Rangari) Gram Panchayat. Investigation of 50-60 layouts has been done till now. The investigation of other layouts has to be concluded. The layouts are:
1) Layouts of Anand Udaynarayan Singh (Khasra No. 56/1, 1, 153/20, 1/1/2, 93).
2) Layouts of Sharad Kishanlal Rai (Khasra No. 152/1).
3) Layouts of Gunvanta Madhukar Makde (Khasra No. 152/1, 152/2).
4) Layouts of Devrao Honiyaji Nimje (Khasra No. 201, 202, 55/1).
5) Layouts of Vikas Charandas Bankar (Khasra No. 48/3).
6) Layouts of Vijay Sanbhaji Wankhede (Khasra No. 137/1, 138, 140).
7) Layouts of Rakesh Hiralal Kaithal (Khasra No. 111/1).
8) Layouts of Mahendra Gulabsingh Rathod (Khasra No. 201, 217, 218).
9) Layouts of Tukaram Shankarrao Maind (Khasra No. 52).
10) Layouts of Santosh Kishanlal Rai (Khasra No. 51/A).
11) Layouts of Hiralal Mohan Jha (Khasra No. 154/1).
12) Layouts of Arun Kumar Singh (Khasra No. 91/3).
13) Layouts of Rajan Nagpal (Khasra No. 88).
14) Layouts of Mahadeo Tryambak Tajne (Khasra No. 44).
15) Layouts of Vijay Ramkrishna Mhaske-Anand Ramdas Landge-Deepak Maroti Bhagat (Khasra No. 202).
16) Layouts of Sudhakar Shravan Wadaskar (Khasra No. 166/1, 166).
17) Layouts of Nitin Dwarkaprasad Jaiswal (Khasra No. 49) and others.
According to sources, the Gram Panchayat will send show cause notices to plot holders, layout holders and concerned former office-bearers. The plot holders can lodge cheating complaints with police on the basis of notices sent by Gram Panchayat. If the plot holders neglect the notices of Gram Panchayat, the the Gram Panchayat itself will file complaints with police against the Government land grabbers who have laid their hands on Forest, Revenue Departments and Pench Project land as well. The Gram Panchayat will even knock the doors of courts if no action is initiated against the land mafia, sources said.
