‘Attempts to Harass Me’: Yusuf Pathan Moves Gujarat HC in Case Accusing Him of Illegally Occupying Land – News18

Former cricketer and newly elected Lok Sabha MP from Trinamool Congress (TMC), Yusuf Pathan, has approached the Gujarat High Court seeking intervention in a land encroachment case. The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) issued a notice to Pathan on June 6, instructing him to remove encroachments from a plot owned by the VMC in Tandalja within 15 days.

The matter was placed before Justice Sangeeta Vishen, who requested clarification from the VMC. Pathan defended his actions in court, arguing that the timing of the notice was linked to his recent election as a TMC MP. “I have recently been elected from a different party in the Lok Sabha elections, and attempts are being made to harass me,” he stated.

Pathan’s counsel, Yatin Oza, presented arguments before the court on Thursday, linking the timing of the notice to Pathan’s recent election victory. “The VMC did nothing for 10 years and suddenly sent a notice just two days after the poll results,” Oza stated, also suggesting that the notice was politically motivated.

It was further argued that under the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporations Act (GPMC Act), the corporation, not the state government, has the final authority if the land belongs to the civic body. It was also pointed out that the VMC had initially intended to allocate the plot to Pathan and his brother, Irfan Pathan, for their contributions to Indian cricket.

Oza asked the court to treat the notice as a show-cause notice to prevent immediate action. “As per the law, the state government’s approval is not needed. VMC admitted in the notice that I am in possession of this land. I urge that this notice be treated as a show-cause notice. Otherwise, bulldozers will come,” Oza warned.

Sheetal Mistry, Chairman of the VMC Standing Committee, acknowledged the legal proceedings, stating, “Since the matter has gone to the court, it remains to be seen what decision the court will take.”

The controversy traces back to 2012 when Pathan requested the VMC to allocate the plot adjacent to his residence, offering to buy it at market rate. The VMC initially approved the proposal in 2014, but it was later rejected by the state government. Despite this, Pathan claims he has maintained possession of the land.

The issue resurfaced on June 13 when former Vadodara BJP councillor Vijay Pawar accused Pathan of illegally occupying the municipal plot by building a compound wall. Pawar demanded that the VMC reclaim the plot. The situation escalated on June 15 when Vadodara councillor Nitin Donga submitted a memorandum to the Municipal Commissioner, calling for a land grabbing case against Pathan. Donga also alleged that Pathan falsely declared part of the municipal plot as his property in a required affidavit for an MP form.