Overview
- Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule told the Legislative Council that a Special Investigation Team will examine irregular acceptance of a gift deed and subsequent mutations in Mouje/Gangapur, Nandurbar.
- Preliminary findings state there was no familial or legal link between the original owner and the beneficiary, yet mutations were processed, suggesting a possible organised chain from talathi staff to senior officials.
- The minister said tribal land from the Gavit and Walvi families was transferred to a non-tribal person identified as Agarwal, with compensation figures revised up to ₹159 crore during a highway acquisition process.
- The SIT will be led by Nashik divisional commissioner Pravin Gedam with an IPS officer on the team, is expected to report within a month, and all officials linked to the case will be moved from current posts during the probe.
- The state will seek to restore Section 36(2) protections by reviewing and canceling an earlier order and will approach the High Court if required to safeguard tribal land.