Yusuf Pathan Gets 'Encroachment' Notice From Gujarat Civic Body Days After Poll Win

The Vadodara Municipal Corporation has issued a notice to former cricketer and TMC's Lok Sabha MP Yusuf Pathan, alleging that he was encroaching on a 978-square-metre plot belonging to the civic body.

Yusuf Pathan has been slapped with an 'encroachment' notice.

The BJP-ruled Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) in Gujarat has issued a notice to former Indian cricketer and TMC Lok Sabha MP from Baharampur, West Bengal, Yusuf Pathan. The VMC issued the notice against Yusuf Pathan alleging that he was encroaching on a plot. 

The VMC said that the 978 square metre plot belonged to it and that it had issued a notice to Pathan on June 6. Former BJP councillor Vijay Pawar had earlier raised the allegation, reported news agency PTI.

Vijay Pawar's Allegations 

Regarding this matter, Vijay Pawar said, "I have no problem with Yusuf Pathan. VMC owns a residential plot in the Tandalja area. Yusuf Pathan had demanded this plot in 2012 as it is adjacent to his house. Then he offered Rs 57,000 per square metre to buy it.

Pawar further said, "Then VMC had approved this proposal and it was passed in the general board meeting. But in such a case, the state government has the final authority and no approval was received from it, due to which the proposal was rejected. However, then VMC did not fence the plot." 

He said, "I have now come to know that Yusuf Pathan has encroached upon the plot by building a compound wall around it. That is why I have asked the Municipal Corporation to investigate." 

Mistry confirmed Pawar's claims about the state government not approving the sale of the plot to Pathan and said a notice had been served on him for the alleged encroachment.

VMC Standing Committee chairperson Sheetal Mistry said, "We have issued a notice. We will wait for some time and then take action. This land belongs to VMC and we shall take it back."

Yusuf Pathan recently won the Lok Sabha elections on a Trinamool Congress Ticket from Baharampur. He defeated Congress heavyweight Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.