Bachchan's land deal scrutiny on hold for time being

Pune, June 5 (UNI) The scrutiny by the district administration on cinestar Amitabh Bachchan's claim of owning 24 acres of agricultural land near Pavana dam in Maval taluka of this district, has been put on hold until the case is settled by the High Court, according to Sub-Divisional Magistrate Bhanudas Gaikwad.

''The process of scrutinisation will get underway only after the High Court decides on the issue as Bachchan has challenged the Faizabad Court order,'' Mr Gaikwad said.

Social Activist Dr Baba Adhav has, meanwhile, proposed to intensify his campaign against industrialists, film stars and politicians who have ''fraudulently'' purchased land while depriving local farmers of their rights.

A Faizabad court in Uttar Pradesh had rejected Bachchan's claims of being a farmer and scrapped his ownership of a farmland in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki district.

Pune district administration would also scrutinise his documents and testimonials relating to the purchase of 24 acres of agricultural land near Pavana Dam in Maval taluka of this district.

Sources at the District Collectorate said they were awaiting an official status report on the actor's claims.

Earlier, the Additional Commissioner in Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, observed that he was dismissing the allotment as the documents pertaining to the land allotment seemed ''fudged''. The District Magistrate, Barabanki, had alleged that Bachchan had ''misrepresented facts'' to get the benefit.

''This changes things for him here in Pune as well,'' the sources said, adding he was given agricultural land on the basis of the testimonials showing him to be a farmer, since as per the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Land Act, 1963, only farmers can own agricultural land in Maharashtra.'' ''We will issue show cause notices to him after we get his farmer status report from Fatehpur administration,'' an official here said.

It was a query by the Pune Collector in March 2006 to the Barabanki District Magistrate for authentication of the Uttar Pradesh testimonial that revealed alleged irregularities.

Recently, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said the state government would seek a factual report from Uttar Pradesh and would take appropriate action with regard to his land deal in Pune district.

UNI