Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has launched a strong attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of acquiring land for its new Maharashtra headquarters in Mumbai through questionable and irregular means. Raut alleged that the entire transaction, from proposal to approval and final transfer, was executed with “lightning speed,” implying that civic norms were bent to favor the ruling party. The controversy erupted just days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah performed the Bhoomi Pujan ceremony for the upcoming BJP state headquarters near Churchgate.
In a detailed letter addressed to Amit Shah, Raut questioned the transparency of the land acquisition process. “Dear Mr. Amit Shahaji. Jai Maharashtra. Today, I am presenting information about what secret lies beneath the land of the BJP office, whose groundbreaking ceremony you are about to perform,” he wrote. According to Raut, the plot in question spans 1,377.79 square meters and was originally leased for 99 years—from February 11, 1902, to February 12, 2001. He claimed that after the lease period ended, the land became the subject of a series of transactions that lacked procedural integrity.
Raut alleged that a private construction company, Eknath Realtors, applied on April 1, 2025, to purchase part of the land from a co-operative finance corporation and that the approval for this transfer was granted within mere days. He claimed that “the land for the office you are inaugurating was acquired by bending the rules... and many files were fast-tracked with the speed of Rafael and the decisions were taken at the speed of Jet.” He demanded full transparency in the process, alleging that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which has been under a state-appointed administrator since 2022, expedited the approvals suspiciously.
According to Raut, the entire transaction, including the payment of ₹8.11 crore in transfer fees, was completed within weeks—an unusually short period for such bureaucratic processes. He further claimed that the plot was meant for residential purposes but was quickly reclassified to allow for the BJP’s new office. Concluding his letter with sarcasm, Raut wrote, “May such good fortune come to the public as well!”
NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Rohit Pawar supported Raut’s position, urging the BMC commissioner to issue a public clarification on the approvals granted for the BJP office project. Pawar warned that if such irregularities went unchecked, it could set a dangerous precedent for transferring other valuable public lands, such as the Mahalaxmi Racecourse, to private or political entities under similar circumstances.
Responding to the allegations, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed them outright, calling them baseless and politically motivated. He maintained that the BJP had lawfully purchased a private plot near Churchgate station, adhering to all the required procedures and permissions of the BMC. “I knew that on the day of our Bhoomi Pujan, some opposition leader would raise baseless allegations,” Fadnavis said. “We followed every rule, took every permission, and did not ask for any concession. Those who are used to grabbing land and misusing power should not lecture us about transparency.”
Fadnavis also used a popular Hindi proverb to counter Raut’s claims, saying, “Jinke sheeshe ke hote hain wo dusri par pathar nahi mara karte,” which translates to “Those living in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.” He reiterated that the new BJP office would not serve any commercial purpose and would instead function as a space for political coordination and public welfare activities. He added that all BJP leaders have been encouraged to contribute to the party’s “Samarpan Nidhi” fund for the building’s construction.
The new 11-storey BJP Maharashtra headquarters, to be built at Block Number 9 in Vasani Chambers near Churchgate, is set to become a major administrative and strategic center for the party in the state. The facility will include a media office, a digital and social media command center, an election war room, and offices for the treasurer and organizational units. It will also feature a large amphitheater, conference halls, and modern audiovisual infrastructure to host events, press conferences, and video meetings.
According to Fadnavis, construction is expected to be completed within two to two-and-a-half years. Once operational, the new headquarters is expected to strengthen the BJP’s organizational capacity in Mumbai, symbolizing its growing political influence in Maharashtra. However, the political storm surrounding the land deal indicates that the controversy over its acquisition is unlikely to subside soon.
