Sena minister accused of grabbing land
A former government official has alleged that more than an acre of his farm land in Khed, Ratnagiri was grabbed by Shiv Sena minister Ramdas Kadam a few years ago for a students’ hostel.
Kadam said that Atmaram Bhuvad’s claims are false and that he has already lost cases over it in two courts. He added that he will file a defamation case against Bhuvad.
Kadam is a senior Sena leader and holds the environment portfolio. He is the second minister from the Devendra Fadnavis government to face land-grab allegations. Earlier, former revenue minister Eknath Khadse had to resign over a land deal of a prime plot in Pune. An FIR had also been filed against him recently.
Bhuvad alleged that his family-owned 1.02-acre (41 guntha) farm land in Khed tehsil of Ratnagiri district was grabbed by Kadam in 2008 when he was the leader of the Opposition in the state assembly. Shivtej Aarogya Sanstha, a trust run by Kadam, constructed a hostel of Yogita dental college on the grabbed plot. He is also alleged to have illegally claimed the 7/12 extract (property card) of the plot. Ratnagiri is in the Konkan region of the state.
Against that, Kadam said the 7/12 extract of land shown by Bhuvad seemed to be fake as the survey number of its property does not exist as all. The land survey department has not found any plot of that survey number in its record.
“He is trying to defame me in connivance with local Congress and NCP leaders as the matter is sub-judice.
His claims were already rejected by two lower courts,” Kadam asserted.
The Sena leader said he has decided to file a defamation case against Bhuvad and seek a com pensation of Rs10 crore for intentionally maligning him.
“I am ready to send all docu ments to the chief minister and Dhananjay Munde, leader o Opposition in the legislative council,” the minister said.
Munde has demanded Kadam’s resignation following serious allegations.