Rajeev Shukla BAGs Prime Plots in Mumbai for a Song
Massive irregularities have been alleged in the allotment of prime plots of land to a trust co-founded by Congress MP Rajeev Shukla and his wife Anuradha Prasad in Mumbai.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirit Somaiya has claimed that the plot measuring 2,821 sqm, barely 1 km from Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan’s residence in Juhu, is worth more than `100 crore. “In 2007, the land was allotted to BAG Films Educational Society for a discounted fee of `98,735 as a special case. The initial proposal was to construct a school and a five-star club. As per one of the conditions, if the school is not constructed within two years, the lease stands cancelled,” said Somaiya. He added there has been no development on the plots and hence the lease should stand cancelled.
For his part, Shukla said he recommended the government to take back the land on December 4. Somaiya also alleged that the trust was registered in Delhi, while only those entities which are registered in the State can be allotted land. “The plots were handed over to Shukla’s trust merely on an application that had sketchy details about the organisation. The Collector, while allotting the land, did not even apply his mind. The only reason it was done by subverting the law was because Shukla is a Congress MP and is considered close to Rahul Gandhi,” said Somaiya.
The plot of land housed 24 slum structures that as per law became the liability of the new owners. “However, the slum occupants were rehabilitated in government housing projects for which the trust paid some nominal money. Rehabilitation by the State government of slums dwellers on land with private interest is unheard of. It was only done because of Shukla’s political links,” Somaiya claimed.
“This is a goldmine for the trust as they have no slum dwellers to rehabilitate and can exploit the entire potential of the plot,” he added.