Ahmedabad/Vadodara: The Gujarat High Court has dealt a significant blow to former cricketer and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Yusuf Pathan by dismissing his petition in a land dispute case in Vadodara. The court has directed the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) to reclaim a plot allegedly encroached upon by Pathan, raising concerns about potential bulldozer action against part of his residence.
The controversy stems from a notice issued by the VMC, which accused Pathan of illegally occupying a municipal plot in Vadodara’s Tandalja area. The notice followed Pathan’s election as a TMC MP from West Bengal’s Baharampur constituency. According to Navbharat Times, the VMC had previously issued a notice to Pathan, prompting him to challenge the directive in the Gujarat High Court. However, the court’s recent ruling upheld the VMC’s position, intensifying the threat of demolition.
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Suresh Tuvar, VMC’s Assistant Municipal Commissioner (Revenue), confirmed on Wednesday that the civic body would move to recover the plot in question. The disputed land, adjacent to Pathan’s bungalow, was reportedly encroached upon after the VMC’s 2012 resolution to allot it to Pathan was rejected by the state government in 2014. Despite the rejection, Pathan constructed a compound wall around the plot, leading to accusations of land grabbing.
The Gujarat High Court’s decision has amplified pressure on Pathan, with the VMC now tasked with clearing the encroachment. The ruling has sparked discussions about potential bulldozer action, a measure often employed to remove illegal structures on public land. Navbharat Times reported that the VMC’s actions were prompted by complaints from local BJP leaders, who have pushed for strict enforcement under the Gujarat Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act.
As the situation unfolds, the VMC awaits further directives while Pathan faces the challenge of complying with the court’s order. The case underscores ongoing tensions between civic authorities and public figures over land disputes in Gujarat.