Left TMC: Gujarat’s BJP govt gifts Y Pathan disputed ₹ 20 Cr plot
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Vadodara: The Gujarat government has approved the allotment of a disputed 978-square-metre plot worth an estimated Rs 20.53 crore to Lok Sabha MP and former cricketer Yusuf Pathan, potentially paving the way for him to take possession of government land beside his Vadodara residence after a 14-year delay, India Today reported.
The development comes months after Pathan left the Trinamool Congress Party.
The state’s approval has been communicated to the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC), which will now place the proposal before its Standing Committee. The final price payable by Pathan remains undecided and will be determined after officials examine the government’s order. The estimated valuation stands at Rs 2.10 lakh per square metre.
The move comes despite a prolonged legal dispute over the land, which Pathan sought to acquire in 2012. The civic body initially pursued allotment on a 99-year lease without a public auction, but the state government rejected the proposal in 2014.
In 2024, the corporation ordered action to remove what it described as an encroachment on the plot. Pathan challenged the decision, but the Gujarat High Court dismissed his petition on August 21, 2025. He subsequently appealed.
During a hearing in June 2026, the High Court questioned how the land had been occupied without lawful allotment or payment and scrutinised the role of municipal officials. Pathan’s lawyer sought additional time to argue that the state had a policy governing land allotments to international cricketers.
Pathan withdrew his appeal on August 31, 2026. The state government’s latest approval has now revived the allotment process, despite the earlier rejection and court scrutiny surrounding his occupation of the land.
The proposed allotment raises questions about the handling of public land, particularly after years of objections, legal proceedings, and municipal action regarding the alleged encroachment.