A long-running land dispute in Bhayander East has moved towards a possible resolution after BJP MLA Narendra Mehta agreed to give up possession of the disputed plot and surrender the construction permission associated with it.
The development came days after 81-year-old Asgar Ali Vora, who has said he is a former schoolmate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, met the Prime Minister on September 8 seeking intervention in the matter. Vora has been pursuing the dispute for around 15 years.
Vora had purchased approximately 2,810 sq. m. of land at Navghar in Bhayander East in 1989. He later alleged that the property was encroached upon in 2011 by Swayam Builders and Seven Eleven Constructions, a company associated with Mehta. An FIR was registered in 2015, and the matter remains before a court.
Decision Taken at Mantralaya Meeting
Following Vora’s meeting with Modi, government authorities took up the issue, with a hearing and discussions involving officials and the parties concerned.
At a meeting held at Mantralaya, attended by Vora, Mehta, Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation Commissioner Radha Binod Sharma and town planner Purushottam Shinde, Mehta submitted a letter to the town planning department stating that he would surrender possession of the disputed property and give up the construction permission granted for it.
In his submission, Mehta said the property had been purchased from Mervyn Fernandes in 2019.
Complaint Against Vora Also to Be Withdrawn
Mehta also indicated that he would withdraw a police complaint previously lodged against Vora, saying the decision followed a settlement between the two sides.
The move represents a significant development in a dispute that has continued for more than a decade and involved representations before revenue authorities, municipal officials and police.
The case had earlier gained wider attention after Vora approached Modi for assistance. According to reports, he said he was hopeful of a resolution following their meeting.
Property Dispute Remains Subject to Formal Process
While Mehta’s decision to surrender possession and construction approval marks a major administrative development, the underlying legal proceedings and formal transfer of control remain important to the next stage of the matter.
The latest development comes against a broader backdrop of property and development disputes in the Mira-Bhayander area, where questions over land ownership, construction permissions and development rights have periodically involved civic and government authorities.
For the disputed Bhayander plot, the immediate focus will now be on completing the administrative and legal procedures arising from Mehta’s submission and determining the subsequent status and use of the property.
Source: News 18
