Yusuf Pathan Land Row: VMC May Gift Half of Disputed Plot to Cricketer
Vadodara Municipal Corporation proposes gifting half a plot to Yusuf Pathan and selling the rest. Standing Committee to decide on Oct 23.
A long-standing land dispute involving former Indian international cricketer and West Bengal MP Yusuf Pathan has taken a surprising turn. The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has put forward a proposal regarding a 978-square-metre residential plot located near Pathan's residence, suggesting that half of the land be gifted to the sportsman while the remaining half be sold.
The Standing Committee's Deciding Vote
The fate of the property now rests with the VMC Standing Committee. According to a notice issued by the Municipal Secretary's Office on October 19, a crucial meeting is scheduled for October 23. The allotment of land to Yusuf Pathan is listed as Item 5 on the meeting's agenda.
The committee will review a recommendation made by the Municipal Commissioner concerning the plot, identified as Final Plot (FP) No. 90 within Town Planning (TP) Scheme No. 22. It is important to note that Pathan will only gain legal ownership of the disputed area if the Standing Committee officially approves the proposal, which has already received a nod from the Gujarat government.
A History of Conflict and Claims
The controversy surrounding the land, located in the Tandlaja area of Vadodara, dates back over a decade. The Pathan family bungalow sits directly adjacent to the VMC-owned plot. In 2012, Yusuf Pathan had formally requested the corporation to grant him the plot so he could construct a stable.
While the corporation initially passed a resolution in his favor, the request hit a roadblock in 2014. When the matter reached the state government in Gandhinagar, the authorities rejected the request and refused to allot the land to the cricketer.
Allegations of Illegal Occupation
Despite the state government's refusal, allegations of encroachment surfaced. On June 13, 2024, former BJP councillor Vijay Pawarrese raised the issue, alleging that Yusuf Pathan had illegally occupied the municipal plot. It is claimed that Pathan had extended his boundaries by constructing a compound wall on the VMC's land.
The current proposal to split the plot—gifting one half and selling the other—appears to be a move to resolve the ongoing deadlock and legal ambiguity surrounding the property's occupation.