High Court issues notice to Rane, his wife over trust land

Mumbai, Feb 17 (PTI) The Bombay High Court today issuednotices to state Industries Minister Narayan Rane and his wifeNeelam on a PIL alleging misuse of a plot of land in suburbanAndheri, allotted by the state government.

Rane, the Chief Minister then, had used his powers toallot the plot to the Sindhudurg Shikshan Prasarak Mandal(SSPM), a Sindhudurg-based trust, which was then headed by hiswife Neelam Rane, PIL says.

The land, in suburban Andheri, was alloted for communitycentre, but user was changed later and it was rented out forcommercial purpose, PIL alleges.

PIL demands demolition of the Jail Restaurant andLounge'' which stands there.

The division bench of Justices P B Majmudar and AmjedSayed today also asked the state government to file a reply byMarch 8.

The PIL alleges that to facilitate the lease agreement,rules were bent and the SSPM was not charged the rent at themarket rate.

Ashok Kalgutkar, the petitioner, also alleges that NeelamRane got the permission to use the premises for the commercialpurpose in just nine days after appliying.