‘Final victory,’ says Jain community as Charity Commissioner scraps Rs 230 crore property deal

”The trust and the M/s Gokhale Landmarks LLP must cancel the sale deed and power of attorney executed on October 8, 2025 and take necessary legal steps to formalise the cancellation,” the order said.

The Charity Commissioner also directed the trustees to refund the entire sale amount of Rs 230 crore. ”The trustees of the trust are directed to refund the entire sale consideration amount after TDS deduction to the developer once the sale deed and POA are cancelled,” the order said, adding, ”the trust must report to the Public Trusts Registration Office, Mumbai to restore the property’s title to its records.”

After the Charity Commissioner cancelled the sale deed, Vishal Gokhale, chairman and managing director of the Gokhale Constructions said, “Respecting the sentiments of the Jain community, on my own I decided to withdraw from this project. The trustees of Seth Hirachand Nemchand Digambar Jain Boarding Trust also responded positively to this decision. I sincerely thank the respected Jain sages who appreciated my decision and took the stand that the trust should return Rs 230 crore as the deal is being cancelled. In a way, I consider this to be a blessing from the Jain sages. After today’s order of the Charity Commissioner, the further legal process to cancel the sale deed will be initiated soon.”

The land in question, which is 3.5 acres, is located in upmarket Model Colony area of Pune city. It houses the Jain boarding hostel, a Mahavir Jain temple, playground, a prayer hall, assembly hall, servant quarters, a mess and an 80-year-old well.

Reacting to the Charity Commissioner’s decision, Akshay Jain, a member of the Jain Hostel Bachav Samiti, said, “Our first victory was when the Charity Commissioner’s office earlier this week ordered a status quo in the matter. And now, we have secured the final victory through our united efforts to grab our Jain community’s sacred property.”

Akshay Jain, who is also general secretary of Maharashtra Youth Congress and who first brought the issue to the fore, said, ”The struggle was not easy. We faced several challenges along the way. People from all sections of the society stood with us in this fight.”

Akshay Jain said the Charity Commissioner’s decision is not limited to one trust alone. ”It sets a precedent of transparency and justice for all the charitable institutions under the Charity Act. It is truly a landmark judgment for the future. Our immediate goal now is to ensure that the hostel is re-opened for students at the earliest.”

Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Dhangekar, who took up cudgels on behalf of the Jain community, said he was still not satisfied. ”This fight is still not over. We will have to find out whether the Charity Commissioner has the power to cancel the deed in this manner. We will continue to fight till everything becomes crystal clear.”

Dhangekar said, ”I demand that a high-level probe be instituted in this matter. Every participant in the Jain Boarding property issue should be brought under the scanner. This includes Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol, the trustees, the builders, the cooperative credit societies and even the Charity Commissioner. All their records must be examined.”

Dhangekar vowed not to let off those who tried to take over the sacred Jain community property. ”I will not allow those who try to grab the sacred Jain community property to get away,” he said.

While raising the voice to cancel the deal, Dhangekar had targeted Pune MP and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation. Similarly, farmer leader Raju Shetti had also joined the movement to cancel the sale deed after Jain community students approached him.

Dhangekar and Shetti alleged that Mohol was the key person behind the entire deal as he was the partner of the Gokhale Constructions. Shetti alleged that two credit cooperatives societies — one located in Karnataka and another in Buldhana — had given the builders a loan of Rs 70 crore. They alleged that the sale deed and mortgage deed were signed the same day in violation of the laid-down norms. Dhangekar said the trust had gone to the extent of giving the Jain temple as mortgage which had rattled the Jain community beyond comprehension.