GANDHINAGAR: Alleging that BJP leaders were involved in a land scam worth more than Rs 500 crore in Rajkot, the Gujarat Congress on Tuesday demanded CBI probe into a matter where the state government changed the purpose of use for 111 acres of land from residential to commercial.
Congress leaders alleged that the land parcel’s purpose of use was converted from residential to commercial by Rajkot Urban Development Authority (RUDA) when Vijay Rupani was the CM.
The Congress demanded that the order to convert the land parcel from residential to commercial be revoked and the CBI investigate the matter.
Dismissing the allegations as baseless and absurd, former CM Vijay Rupani said they were levelled as part of a conspiracy to tarnish his image. He said the Congress was attempting to divert public attention from the exodus of leaders from their party.
Speaking to mediapersons, leader of opposition (LOP) in the assembly Sukhram Rathva said, “Instead of acquiring the land and paying back money invested by people, RUDA took up a proposal of Sahara India Commercial Corporation for a change of purpose.”
“There is no corruption of even Rs 5. I am willing to face any inquiry in the matter,” Rupani countered, adding, “Every government changes zones for development according to the prevailing situation.”
“The Rs 500cr figure is also wrong. The value of the said parcel of land is about Rs 75 crore,” Rupani, who is in the US, said in a statement.
