The Hindu : National : Bachchan may face action if found guilty: Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 03, 2007
ePaper

National

National

Bachchan may face action if found guilty: Minister

Mumbai: Maharashtra Revenue Minister Narayan Rane on Saturday said the farmland purchased by film actor Amitabh Bachchan in Pune district would be ``seized'' by the Government if it was found that he had used fraudulent means to purchase the property.

``We are yet to receive a copy of the order passed by a U.P. court on Friday, which stated that Mr. Bachchan was not a farmer. If it is proved that Mr. Bachchan submitted false documents to purchase the land [in Pune district], it would be seized by the government and criminal proceedings will be initiated if needed,'' Mr. Rane told reporters here.

As per section 63 of the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act 1948, no person can purchase agricultural land in Maharashtra if he is not a farmer, according to a senior government official.

The Mulayam Singh Government in U.P. had allotted three bighas (about 70,000 sq ft) of prime land in Barabanki district to Mr. Bachchan, who used the allotment as a testimonial to establish his credentials as a farmer to buy over 20 acres of agricultural land in Pune district for himself and son Abhishek.

The Pune Collector in March 2006 had written to the Barabanki district magistrate for authentication of Mr. Bachchan's testimonial.

In March 2006, Mr. Bachchan produced documents approved by the U.P. Government that certified him as a farmer, who was cultivating agricultural land in Daulatpur village of U.P. — PTI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National