Shiv Sena’s Minister of State for Housing Ravindra Waikar found himself on the defensive on Wednesday, as the Mumbai Congress accused him of having “grabbed” 20 acres of land worth Rs20 crore in Aarey Colony at Goregaon in north Mumbai.
Addressing a news conference, Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam demanded that Waikar be sacked from the State Cabinet and an FIR be registered against him for having allegedly usurped 20 acres of land located adjacent to a State-run gymnasium, undertaken and “illegal” construction and using facility through his private unregistered trust. Nirupam said that the State-run Aarey Milk Colony’s CEO has been sending letters to Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) to demolish the illegal part of the structure in the gymnasium for over a year. “But, Waikar has stalled the demolition of the illegal structure by misusing his office,” Nirupam alleged.
According to Nirupam, the Minister has put barricades around the plot and is planning to construct a ‘Matoshree like structure there. ‘Matoshree’ is the Bandra residence of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray in north-west Mumbai.
“While on the one hand the Sena has been opposing the proposed car-shed for Metro—3 project in the green zone of Aarey Colony, on the other hand its own Minister has not only grabbed 20 acres of land but has also undertaken illegal construction,” Nirupam said.
Nirupam said he would write to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and lokayukta about the “land scam”.”I will ask Fadnavis to sack the Minister immediately from his Cabinet,” he said. He also went onto charge that Fadnavis – who projects himself “Mr Clean”, was protecting “corrupt” Ministers in his Cabinet.