Demand not to release compensation to landowners of Abdi Mandi

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

Citing proven irregularities in the 7/12 land records of properties located at Mauje Abdi Mandi, Advocate M.A. Madni, counsel for Mohammed Saif Hussain Khan — the legal heir and grandson of the original landowner Shah Mohammed Khan — has urged the administration to withhold compensation to landowners until the matter is resolved in court.

Speaking to mediapersons, Adv. Madni stated, “We have submitted our objections regarding the release of land compensation to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Special Land Acquisition Officer (Revenue). My client’s 1.5 acres of land is also proposed to be acquired for the highway project. We understand that the land acquisition process is likely to be completed by March 2026, following which compensation will be distributed to the landowners.”

He further said that objections had been raised at various government platforms and before the court against the declaration of five gut numbers, out of my client's total land as evacuee property after 1986, as well as against the alleged insertion of new names in the 7/12 records of remaining land and also registering it in their names.

Naziya Khan and Anita Gaikwad, the GPA holders authorised by Mohammed Saif Hussain Khan, were also present during the press briefing.

NHAI plans to acquire approximately 18 hectares of land belonging to 20 farmers and others for the construction of a 4-kilometre bypass on the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar–Dhule (NH 752) stretch from Daulatabad Ghat. The government is expected to release around Rs 30 crore as compensation to the affected landowners after completing land acquisition process by March 2026.