Latest news with #Mohite
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
90% of disputed reserve forest land in Pune under agricultural use
Forest department records have revealed that nearly 90 per cent of reserve forest land currently under dispute in Pune district is being used for agriculture and allied activities. According to official data, at least 14,000 hectares of reserve forest land remain under ownership dispute. Over the past four years, the Pune forest department has been working extensively to resolve land disputes concerning reserve and private forest lands in the district. Most of these disputed lands are in Indapur, Daund, Wadgaon Maval, Baramati, Pune city, and the surrounding areas. A recent Supreme Court ruling has now cleared the way for the department to initiate the process of reclaiming these lands. The roots of the dispute trace back to the British era, when large tracts of land were under the control of the forest and defence departments. In 1978, the Government of India directed the forest department to transfer some of this land to the revenue department for use in administration, town planning, and agriculture. While the transfers were carried out, poor documentation led to confusion over boundaries and ownership. Over time, both departments overlooked these lands, which led to widespread encroachments. In the early 2000s, amid growing concerns over diminishing forest cover and unresolved land disputes, the Centre directed the forest department to identify all reserve forest land handed over to the revenue department and safeguard it against further encroachment. Acting on this directive, the department began the identification process in 2008. Mahadev Mohite, deputy conservator of forests, Pune forest department, said, 'In Pune district, over 36,000 hectares of land was identified. Since 2008, we have successfully reclaimed around 22,000 hectares from the revenue department. The remaining 14,000 hectares are still under their control, mostly in rural tehsils such as Daund, Indapur, and Wadgaon Maval.' 'At least 90 per cent of these lands are currently used for non-forestry purposes, such as agriculture and allied activities like poultry farming, cowsheds, and dairies. In many cases, families have been residing on these lands for generations,' said Mohite. Within Pune city limits, the total reserve forest land amounts to approximately 300 hectares, much of which is currently vacant. 'A key land parcel of 153 hectares in Dighi is under the possession of the defence department. We will now begin proceedings to reclaim these lands. Further scrutiny is also planned in the coming days,' said officials. Jitendra Dudi, Pune district collector, confirmed that the administration is awaiting details from the forest department. 'We have written to the forest department asking them to submit data regarding the disputed reserve forest lands. Based on the information they provide, we will act in accordance with the Supreme Court's directions,' he said.
Hindustan Times
15-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Marne's close aide Pandya Mohite in Pune police net
Pune city police's crime branch on Wednesday arrested Balakrishna alias Pandya Laxman Mohite (40), a close aide of notorious gangster Gajanan Marne. The arrest comes a day after five policemen were suspended for allegedly providing mutton biryani to Marne in a police van during his transfer from Pune to Sangli jail. Mohite, widely known as Marne's 'right hand', is suspected of handling key financial operations of the gang and playing a central role in its criminal activities. He, along with other associates, allegedly continues to run the Marne gang from Sangli district. Mohite was detained around 4am in Sangli and formally arrested around 12.30pm. He was later produced before a special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court and remanded to police custody till May 17. Police said Marne was arrested in February for allegedly attacking an IT engineer in Pune's Kothrud area. On March 3, he was sent to judicial custody. While being shifted to Sangli jail, Mohite and 40–50 supporters from Pune, Sangli, and Satara allegedly followed the police van and engaged in unlawful activities. The entire sequence was captured on CCTV cameras, police said. Mohite has multiple criminal cases registered against him in Bharati Vidyapeeth area of Pune and in Islampur, Sangli district. He also drew public and departmental attention for allegedly arranging mutton biryani for Marne during his transfer from Yerawada Jail to Sangli — an act that led to the suspension of five police personnel. Sources in the crime branch said Mohite had been under surveillance for some time due to his close links with the Marne gang and his suspected involvement in ongoing illegal activities. His arrest is being seen as a key step in the crackdown on Marne's criminal network. Police are currently interrogating Mohite to gather more information about the gang's operations and financial dealings. Further developments are likely as the investigation continues.
