Yusuf Pathan issued with a notice for encroaching a Civic body-owned plot

Yusuf Pathan, the former Indian cricketer turned Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP, has been issued a notice by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC)

Yusuf Pathan, the former Indian cricketer turned Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP, has been issued a notice by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) in Gujarat for allegedly encroaching on a plot of land owned by the civic body. The plot in question, located in the Tanadalja area under Town Planning Scheme 22, was sought by him in 2012 as it was adjacent to his under-construction house at the time. Despite offering approximately Rs 57,000 per square meter for the land and having the proposal cleared by the VMC and passed in a general board meeting, the state government did not approve the sale. Subsequently, Yusuf Pathan was accused of encroaching on the plot by constructing a compound wall around it. Former BJP corporator Vijay Pawar highlighted the issue, prompting VMC’s standing committee chairman, Shital Mistry, to inform the media about the notice served to him on June 6.

Mistry confirmed that the notice was issued after receiving representations regarding the alleged encroachment. The VMC has asked Yusuf Pathan to remove all encroachments and will decide on further actions after a couple of weeks if the encroachments are not addressed. Pawar, while stating he holds no personal grudge against Yusuf Pathan, emphasized that the land is a residential plot owned by VMC. He noted that although the VMC’s proposal to sell the plot to Yusuf Pathan was initially approved by the local authorities, the state government’s final disapproval meant the sale could not proceed. He also pointed out that the lack of a fence around the plot facilitated the alleged encroachment. The VMC asserts that the land belongs to them and is determined to reclaim it. The situation remains under review, with further actions contingent on his response to the notice.