Real estate agent pulled up for missing watan files

According to the FIR, Singh had applied to the office of the District Collector for permission to purchase Watan land in 1997. The Collector8217;s office obtained the clearance from the Revenue Commissionerate of Pune Division and issued three separate orders dated September 29, October 29 and November 6, 1997 allowing Singh to purchase the land.

As per norms the files had to be sent to the tehsildar of Mulshi taluka for further perusal. The FIR states that initially Singh approached Ashok Nangare, a clerk at the District Collector8217;s office, for the files, but was turned down.

The complainant stated that a clerk from the Divisional Commissioner8217;s office, R B Khan called up the district collector8217;s office and directed that the files be handed over to Singh, who acknowledged receipt of the files in writing. In 1999 the files were found 8220;missing8221; after the revenue department initiated an inquiry into the land deal when, Kisan Ganpat Dhide, a land owner, sent applications complaining that the transactions were illegal.

The accused, in a statement to the Bund Garden police on Wednesday, said that he was unaware of the status of the files. Further investigations are on by PI Prakash Shukla.