Rajiv Shukla got plots in Mumbai for a song,must take it back,BJP tells CM

In a letter to Chavan on Saturday,BJP leader Kirit Somaiya said,“The land worth over Rs 100 crore was given to the education society owned by Rajiv Shukla.”

He claimed the state government dereserved the land meant for a primary school to hand it over to Shukla.

The BJP leader has also alleged that another plot in Andheri measuring 3,534 sqm,which was reserved for a playground,was given to BAG Films Education Society on a 15-year lease for just Rs 6,309.

When contacted,Shukla told The Indian Express,“I have not yet taken possession of the land or laid even a brick on it. My intention was to build a school for slum-dwellers residing there. I was not planning any commercial activity to earn profit.”

“I don’t know where this Rs 100-crore figure has come up,” he added.

Shukla said he had spoken to Chavan and told him he had no problems if the Maharashtra government wanted to take back the land. “I have not done anything illegal. If they want to take back the land,l have no issues at all,” the union minister said.

However,Somaiya claimed Shukla got the land because of his proximity with former chief minister late Vilasrao Deshmukh.

“The Congress government will have to explain who benefited from the deal and what was the objective of giving away the land at a throwaway price,” the BJP leader said,adding he would move court if the state government failed to act in this case.

A senior officer in CMO said,“The matter dates back to 2007-08. We will have to discuss the issue with Chavan before making any comment.”

The government has discretionary powers to give concessions on land for charity work like setting up educational institutes and hospitals,he added.

Chavan himself was in Delhi on Saturday.