Supreme Court to Probe Alleged ₹50,000 Cr Forest Land Scam in Raigad

The Supreme Court of India has agreed to examine a Public Interest Litigation alleging that over 4,078 acres of forest land in Maharashtra's Raigad district were illegally allotted to private entities, potentially causing losses exceeding ₹50,000 crore to the state exchequer. The apex court described the allegations as extremely serious and issued notices to the Maharashtra government seeking a comprehensive response.

Bench Terms Allegations 'Very Serious'

On Friday, a bench comprising Justices P S Narasimha and Atul S Chandurkar heard the petition filed by NGO Conscious Citizen Forum. The court characterized the allegations raised in the PIL as being of a grave nature and directed the state government to provide detailed explanations regarding the disputed land transactions. The forest land in question had reportedly been acquired under the provisions of the Maharashtra Private Forests Acquisition Act.

State Confirms Investigation Already Underway

During the proceedings, the counsel representing the Maharashtra government informed the bench that an inquiry into the controversial land allotment was already in progress. While acknowledging the state's cooperation, the judges issued a stern warning, stating that if authorities failed to take appropriate action, the court would be compelled to intervene directly. The bench, however, refrained from passing any interim orders and indicated that it would consider the petitioner's request for maintaining the status quo and preventing third-party rights during the subsequent hearing.

PIL Exposes 'Orchestrated Manoeuvre' Between Officials and Private Parties

According to the Public Interest Litigation, the case involves what has been described as a systematic conspiracy between government authorities and private individuals to divert publicly-owned forest land for personal enrichment. The petition alleges that the land was illegally transferred to the Biwalkar family and their assignees through dubious means. Furthermore, it claims that approximately 61,750 square metres were additionally allotted under the City and Industrial Development Corporation's 12.5% scheme as compensation for a portion of the acquired forest land.

The petitioner asserts that the entire allotment process was executed with what they termed as "suspicious haste" and was allegedly orchestrated by the Urban Development Department. Most significantly, the PIL contends that these allocations were made in direct violation of a stay order previously issued by the Supreme Court on March 23, raising questions about the implementation and monitoring of judicial directives in land matters.

Breaches of Land Ceiling and Environmental Regulations

The petition further argues that under the Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) Act of 1961, the Biwalkar family was legally prohibited from holding more than 54 acres of agricultural land. Any land holdings exceeding this statutory ceiling would have automatically vested with the state government, making any compensation for excess land legally impermissible. The PIL contends that providing compensation for land beyond the permissible ceiling violated existing land reform legislation.

Beyond the legal irregularities, the petition emphasizes that the allotment posed severe environmental threats and violated citizens' fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment as enshrined in the Constitution. The allegations raise concerns about the systematic circumvention of environmental safeguards in land transactions, particularly in ecologically sensitive forest areas that serve critical environmental functions.

Stakes Exceed ₹50,000 Crore for State Exchequer

The Public Interest Litigation values the alleged land scam at over ₹50,000 crore, citing the property's strategic location near the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport and its immense potential for commercial development. The proximity to major infrastructure projects has significantly enhanced the land's market value, making the alleged irregularities potentially one of the largest land scams in recent Maharashtra history.

The case raises multiple red flags regarding governance and regulatory oversight, including the apparent abuse of state power, deliberate circumvention of land ceiling laws, potential environmental degradation of protected forest areas, and the blatant flouting of judicial orders. These allegations have sparked concerns about systemic issues in Maharashtra's land administration and real estate oversight mechanisms.

Court Seeks Detailed Response, Next Hearing Awaited

The Supreme Court has formally sought a comprehensive response from the Maharashtra state government and indicated its intention to examine the matter thoroughly given the serious nature of the allegations. The petitioner's plea to maintain the status quo on the disputed land and prevent any further transfers or third-party rights will be considered during the next scheduled hearing.

Legal experts suggest that the case could set important precedents regarding forest land protection, enforcement of land ceiling laws, and the accountability of government officials in land allotment processes. The outcome may also impact similar cases across other states where allegations of illegal land transfers involving public forest land have been reported.

Disclaimer: This news article is based on reported information available in the public domain. The allegations mentioned are claims made by the petitioner in the Public Interest Litigation and have not been proven in a court of law. All parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Readers are advised to await the official court verdict and further developments in the case before forming conclusions. The property values and financial figures mentioned are as claimed by the petitioner and have not been independently verified.