Cricketer-Turned-MP Yusuf Pathan Gets Notice for Encroachment in Gujarat
Vadodara: Notice Issued to Yusuf Pathan for Alleged Encroachment
14.06.2024: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) in Gujarat, governed by the BJP, has issued a notice to former India cricketer and newly elected Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha MP from Baharampur, Yusuf Pathan. The notice accuses Pathan of encroaching on a plot of land that the civic body claims belongs to it.
Details of the Notice
The VMC served the notice to Yusuf Pathan on June 6. The issue was brought to light by former BJP corporator Vijay Pawar, prompting VMC’s standing committee chairman, Shital Mistry, to inform the media on Thursday.
Allegations and Background
Vijay Pawar alleged that despite the state government’s rejection of VMC’s proposal to sell the plot to Pathan in 2012, Pathan had encroached on the plot by constructing a compound wall. According to Pawar, the plot, located in the Tanadalja area under TP 22, is owned by VMC.
- Pawar’s Statement: “I don’t have any grudge against Yusuf Pathan. In 2012, he demanded this plot from VMC because his house, which was under construction at that time, was adjacent to the plot. He offered nearly ₹57,000 per square meter. The proposal was cleared by the VMC and passed in the general board meeting. However, the state government, the final authority in such matters, did not approve it.”
- Encroachment Claims: Pawar mentioned that although the proposal was rejected, VMC did not put up a fence around the plot. He later discovered that Pathan had constructed a compound wall around it, prompting him to request an inquiry by the municipal corporation.
Official Response from VMC
Shital Mistry confirmed the sequence of events and the state government’s decision not to approve the sale of the 978-square-meter plot to Pathan. He emphasized that the VMC had recently received representations about Pathan’s construction of a compound wall on the plot.
- Mistry’s Statement: “On June 6, we served a notice to Mr. Pathan and asked him to remove all the encroachments. We will wait for a couple of weeks and then decide on further action. This land belongs to VMC, and we will claim it back.”
The Vadodara Municipal Corporation is set on reclaiming the plot of land it claims belongs to it. With the notice served, all eyes are on Yusuf Pathan and his response to the allegations. The situation remains dynamic as both parties prepare for the next steps.