Ahmedabad:
District Collector of Kheda has ordered an inquiry in the case where a piece of land belonging to India's first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was allegedly sold-off using forged documents.
The land concerned is located in Gadwa village of Mehamadabad taluka in Kheda.
"Land belonging to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was sold off by forging documents. An FIR has been filed in Mehamadabad town of the district in the case," District Collector M V Parghi told PTI.
Deputy collector Munir Vohra has been directed to conduct an inquiry, Mr Parghi added.
Union Minister of State for Mines Dinsha Patel had filed an application with the District Collector alleging that a piece of land (1.39 hectares), which was under Sardar Patel's name as per the revenue records of the district collectorate till 2010, was sold-off to one Bhupendra Dabhi by land grabbers.
The minister said that while the cost of land is around Rs 25 lakh presently, it was sold off for for a mere Rs 2.5 lakh.
In place of Sardar Patel, an aged man's photograph was shown as the owner of the land. A thumb print was given on the sale deed registered on the non-judicial stamp of Rs 5,000 on March 20, 2010.
The sale deed was registered by the district collectorate's circle office in Mehamadabad.
"It is very sad that the officials of district collector could not recognise the photo of an impostor vis-a- vis that of Sardar Patel," Dinsha Patel, who is also one of the trustees in Sardar Patel Smarak Samiti, told reporters in Kheda.
Deputy collector Munir Vohra, however, has given a stay order against the sale deed following an application by Dinsha Patel.
"On the basis of further inquiry by the deputy collector, we will decide about the future course of action in this case," Mr Parghi further said.