MUMBAI, JULY 8: The Maharashtra Government has announced that only individuals who can prove their status as farmers will be eligible to purchase agricultural land in the state. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule made the announcement in the Legislative Assembly, stating that a new verification mechanism is being developed through the Commissioner of Land Records to prevent fraudulent land transactions.
Responding to concerns raised by Dhule MLA Anup Agrawal over alleged land scams in Vadjai, Pimpri, and Narvahal villages, the minister ordered a high-level inquiry into the matter. The investigation will be conducted under the supervision of Divisional Commissioner Pravin Gedam, while the Dhule Superintendent of Police has been directed to probe allegations of forged land records, fake farmer certificates, and illegal property transactions. Criminal action will be initiated against those found guilty of fraud or tampering with government records.
Bawankule also announced that illegal inheritance entries made in 2010 in connection with a disputed land parcel will be cancelled. The government will restore the rights of the original 44 members of the Jayprakash Housing Society, stating that once land had been legally sold, the original owners’ heirs had no legal claim to re-enter their names in revenue records. Changes made under Section 155 to alter land area records will also be reviewed and reversed where found illegal.
Addressing concerns over large-scale land purchases by non-residents in Sindhudurg’s Dodamarg region and around the Mopa Airport area, the minister announced a statewide digital monitoring system. Stamp duty officials will now have direct access to the Land Records Commissioner’s database, allowing them to instantly verify whether a buyer already owns agricultural land in Maharashtra and whether they possess valid farmer status. Registrations involving suspicious or ineligible buyers, particularly from outside the state, will be halted for verification.
The government said the new system is aimed at curbing illegal land acquisitions, preventing bogus farmer claims, and protecting the interests of genuine farmers across Maharashtra.
