In a major setback for Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the Bombay High Court passed an order questioning.
The decision taken by the then MVA government minister to direct the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) to give away over 4.5 acres of land meant for slum dwellers to private individuals despite the matter being sub-judice.
Shinde reportedly took the decision when he was serving as urban development minister under Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Agadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra.
In April 2021, Shinde had allocated 5 acre of govt land to as many as 16 builders at a throwaway price. The court has directed authorities to maintain status quo and also asked the Maharashtra government to submit its response.
The court has posted the matter for hearing on January 4, 2023.
The decision was challenged, saying that Shinde had passed the orders despite a case related to the land was pending before the court. It is alleged that the NIT got less than Rs 2 crore for land that is worth over Rs 83 crores.