High court notice to Narayan Rane in land transfer case

The Bombay high court on Friday issued a notice to minister for industries Narayan Rane while hearing a PIL alleging that he illegally released land belonging to a temple trust in Sinnar, Nashik. Five days later, part of it was sold.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by Sanjay Deshpande, president of Brahman Samaj, Sinnar and trustee of PP Loknath Tirth Swami Maharaj Mahayog Trust, Nashik, alleging that Rane released 39.25 acres of land without him having any powers. The judges issued notices to Rane, the owners and buyers of the land and kept the PIL for hearing after four weeks. The court has also stayed further sale of land till the next date.

Chitleshwar Devsthan Trust had 73 acres and 11 gunthas land. One Arvind Vaidya and 15 others approached Rane, who was revenue minister then, and sought its release saying that it belonged to their ancestors.