Uddhav Sena accuses NCP MLA Sunil Shelke of mining royalty evasion worth thousands of crores of rupees

Indian Express

02-07-2025

The Shiv Sena (UBT) Wednesday alleged that Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Sunil Shelke has caused a loss worth thousands of crores of rupees to the state exchequer by not paying the royalty for quarrying activities in his constituency, Maval. In a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut urged him to stop the blatant 'loot' by the MLA belonging to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's NCP.
'Sunil Shelke, without taking any permission from the government, has indulged in digging and collecting minerals from quarries. However, he has failed to pay any royalty to the government,' Raut alleged, adding that Shelke has cheated the government.
As per the Maharashtra Minor Mineral Extraction (Development and Regulation) Rules, 2013, every lessee is required to pay royalty on minerals such as sand, gravel, and murrum mined from the leased area at rates specified by the government from time to time.
Raut said Shelke and his brother had made an application in 2023 to the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) to receive land compensation for the land acquired by the government. 'Accordingly, they were given an alternative land in return,' he said.
'Since Shelke has deprived the government of royalty worth thousands of crores (of rupees), how is the government going to compensate for it? The chief minister should issue a directive in this regard,' Raut said.
'The government has several times acquired fertile and irrigated land from farmers. But has never compensated them with a piece of land in return. Why were the MLA and his family then given the land as compensation?' asked Raut.
Shelke, who is attending the Monsoon Session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, has not responded to Raut's allegations.
Shelke won from Maval for the first time in the 2019 polls as part of the undivided NCP, defeating two-time BJP MLA Bala Bhegade. He retained the seat in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly polls, beating the nearest rival, Bapu Jaywantrao Bhegade, who contested as an Independent.
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