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Journalism of Courage
PUNE, JUNE 15: Aditya Maharaj Singh, who is allegedly involved in the purchase of “Mahar Watan” land at Khubvali village in Mulshi taluka, today denied he had any connection with former Pune municipal commissioner Arun Bhatia.
Addressing a press conference, Singh said he had reason to believe that he was being made a scapegoat and that his name was unnecessarily being linked with Bhatia’s.
He said he was permitted by the district collector to purchase 18 acres of “Mahar Watan” after fulfilling the conditions mentioned in the Government order.
Singh said he had made the payment through crossed cheques, and had paid a higher price than the approved Government rates.
He said the land was acquired by two sale deeds in 1998, registered by the members of Mahar Watandarfamilies in the presence of the Paud sub-registrar. He said he had sought permission to purchase the land in June 1996 when Bhatia was not the divisional commissioner. He, however, said Bhatia was the divisional commissioner when he obtained permission in 1998.
On the missing file’, he denied having taken any file from the collector’s office. He pointed out that even the court, while granting him anticipatory bail, had denied he had anything to do with the missing file in any manner.
He said permission to purchase “Mahar Watan” land was routinely granted, and about 50 such cases were sanctioned every year. He said the divisional commissioner ratifies the district collector’s recommendation after receiving the facts from the talathi, circle officer and tehsildar. He also made it clear that the divisional commissioner had no role in giving permission for the purchase of the land.
