NCP leader Dhananjay Munde in dock for illegal purchase of govt land, FIR registered

NCP leader Dhananjay Munde Friday got relief from the Supreme Court which stayed the Bombay High Courts order directing registration of a case against him for alleged illegal purchase of a government land. But before the SC order came, police in Beed district registered a case of cheating and forgery against Munde and 13 others as per the high courts June 11 directive. Munde, the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, had approached the Supreme Court against the high courts order. I welcome this SCs decision. The truth has prevailed, he said in a statement. The Supreme Court also sought response from the BJP-led Maharashtra government on Mundes plea. Before the apex courts order came, a case was registered Friday morning at Bardapur police station in Beed district under IPC sections 420 (cheating) and 471 (forgery) against Munde and 13 others. Also read: Phad had alleged that the land belonged to the government and was given to the Belkhandi Math as a gift when Ranit Wyanka Giri was its mahant (head). It was sold to Munde in 2012 without the governments permission, he contended. Munde has stated that the land was purchased as per rules and without hoodwinking anyone, organization or the government, and the petition was filed to pursue political vendetta as he had flagged an alleged loan fraud involving Phads father-in-law Ratnakar Gutte earlier.