45 years on, Godrej claims ownership of Vikhroli land in HC

THE STATE, IN ITS LEGAL SUIT FILED IN 1973, CLAIMS THAT GODREJ OWNS ONLY 124 ACRES OF THE LAND

MUMBAI: Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited on Tuesday claimed ownership of more than 3,000 acres of marshland in Vikhroli, a claim which is being contested by the state government in the Bombay high court for more than four decades.

Maneck Engineer, the retainer for Godrej, was cross-examined by the government pleader Kunal Bhanage along with Himanshu Takke and Amar Mishra.

He was asked whether the land in question was khajan (marsh) or cultivable, and on what grounds does the corporate group claim complete ownership of it. The state, in its legal suit filed way back in 1973, claims that Godrej owns only 124 of the 3,054 acres of land in Vikhroli.

Engineer claimed that after the victory against the Koli family in a 1963 case on the title of the land, the new survey no 61-65 showed Godrej as owners of the land parcel. The court has sought the documents as the state claimed Godrej was named holder of the land and not owners in the said documents.

Engineer also said the land was marshland and Godrej owned the entire 3,054 acres of it.

Incidentally, a different part of the same property is under litigation in the Bombay high court initiated by the Godrej group, challenging its proposed acquisition by the Centre for its bullet train project.

The cross-examination is expected to continue further on Thursday and Friday before the bench of justice Gautam Patel.