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Uddhav Sena accuses NCP MLA Sunil Shelke of mining royalty evasion worth thousands of crores of rupees

Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut wrote to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, seeking action against alleged royalty evasion by Sunil Shelke.

Maval seat, Mahayuti alliance partner, Bala Bhegde, Maval assembly seat, MLA Sunil Shelke, Ajit Pawar faction, BJP, NCP, Indian express newsMaval sitting MLA Sunil Shelke (File Photo)

The Shiv Sena (UBT) Wednesday alleged that Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Sunil Shelke has caused a loss worth thousands of crores of rupees to the state exchequer by not paying the royalty for quarrying activities in his constituency, Maval. In a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut urged him to stop the blatant ‘loot’ by the MLA belonging to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s NCP.

”Sunil Shelke, without taking any permission from the government, has indulged in digging and collecting minerals from quarries. However, he has failed to pay any royalty to the government,” Raut alleged, adding that Shelke has cheated the government.

As per the Maharashtra Minor Mineral Extraction (Development and Regulation) Rules, 2013, every lessee is required to pay royalty on minerals such as sand, gravel, and murrum mined from the leased area at rates specified by the government from time to time.

Raut said Shelke and his brother had made an application in 2023 to the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) to receive land compensation for the land acquired by the government. ”Accordingly, they were given an alternative land in return,” he said.

”Since Shelke has deprived the government of royalty worth thousands of crores (of rupees), how is the government going to compensate for it? The chief minister should issue a directive in this regard,” Raut said.

“The government has several times acquired fertile and irrigated land from farmers. But has never compensated them with a piece of land in return. Why were the MLA and his family then given the land as compensation?” asked Raut.

Shelke, who is attending the Monsoon Session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, has not responded to Raut’s allegations.

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Shelke won from Maval for the first time in the 2019 polls as part of the undivided NCP, defeating two-time BJP MLA Bala Bhegade. He retained the seat in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly polls, beating the nearest rival, Bapu Jaywantrao Bhegade, who contested as an Independent.

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More


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