The Tourism Minister is battling allegations of dubious land deals in Dhule district following the death of 84-year-old Dharma Patil who breathed his last on Sunday, nearly a week after he consumed poison at state secretariat here demanding better compensation for his land which was acquired for a solar project.
Gote, an MLA from Dhule district, said the land grab "scam" runs into Rs 135 crore.
Interestingly, opposition Congress and NCP had alleged that farmers in the district whose land was acquired for the project had to pay to middlemen to ensure higher compensation.
"Without any political support, estate agents cannot carry out such land grabbing scam. The survey numbers 501 and 510 (the land) are actually owned by the state government, but it has been grabbed by some land agents. All these details are mentioned in Zagade's report," Gote claimed.
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"Several government officials buy some land in advance through some agents. Then it gets acquired at higher rates. It is an organised loot," he stated.
NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik yesterday alleged that Rawal and his family members had bought lands in advance from farmers at lower rates in Dhule district ahead of their acquisition by the state government for higher compensation.
He also alleged that some "fake" companies are operational in Dhule district that buy land for Rawal.
Rawal, who represents the Sindkheda constituency in the north Maharashtra district, of which the deceased farmer was also a resident, had denied the charges.
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