Revenue minister Eknath Khadse has clarified that land given to actor Hema Malini was as per the law and denied any irregularity in the land deal. The comment from the minister came after an RTI report revealed that the state government has agreed to allot a plot of 2,000 square metre at Oshiwara for a dance academy proposed by the veteran actor and BJP MP Hema Malini for Rs 70,000.
In the clarification, the minister said that the plot was allotted as per the revenue and forest department’s policy in 1983 and 1984. According to the policy, the rate of valuation based 25 per cent of rates on February 1, 1976. “We have not gone out of the way to give any concession to the institute. We have followed the due process and no irregularity had taken place,” Mr Khadse stated.
He also said that a part of the plot could not be developed due to the CRZ restrictions and hence 2,000 square metres out of 29,360 square metre plot at Ambivali, Andheri that was reserved for a garden, was granted for the actor’s institute, the minister said. “The 2,000 square metres’ piece was given to the Hema Malini Trust and it was decided that the Trust would develop the remaining plot as a garden. The said changes were made in the BMC rules,” Mr Khadse said. The payment of Rs 10 lakh was made for the additional plot, he added.
