CM Fadnavis Intervenes in Pune’s Jain Boarding Land Row; BJP Declares Support for Jain Community

Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 25th October 2025: The controversy surrounding the ‘Jain Boarding’ land transaction in Pune has taken a political turn ahead of the local body elections, prompting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to step in. The issue gained momentum after Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol discussed the matter with the Chief Minister, following which the BJP publicly expressed its support for the Jain community on Saturday.

For the past few days, the dispute over the ‘Jain Boarding’ property in Model Colony has intensified. Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) metropolitan chief and former MLA Ravindra Dhangekar has accused Mohol of being involved in the land deal, while Mohol has refuted the claims, asserting that the concerned builder is not his business partner now. The controversy has raised political concerns for the ruling party, especially as the Jain community’s discontent could impact the upcoming civic polls.

After Fadnavis took note of the situation, senior BJP leaders, including city president Dheeraj Ghate and former Leader of the House Ganesh Bidkar, held a press conference to announce the party’s stand. “BJP is with the Jain community and is working to convey their demands and sentiments to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The community has sought cancellation of the land transaction and has warned of launching an agitation. BJP will also participate in the protest march,” Ghate and Bidkar said.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol visited the Jain Boarding premises and interacted with Jain monks. “BJP has always stood by the Jain community and will ensure that justice is delivered,” Mohol assured during his visit.

What Is the Jain Boarding Issue?
The ‘Jain Boarding’ refers to the premises of Sheth Hirachand Nemchand Jain Digambar Boarding Trust, a charitable institution established in 1958 in Model Colony, Shivajinagar. The trust-owned property was reportedly sold to a developer linked to a business associate of Minister Mohol. It is alleged that certain trustees executed the sale without obtaining the required permissions and approvals.

The transaction has sparked outrage among members of the Jain community, who claim the sale violates the trust’s objectives. In response, the Charity Commissioner has ordered a status quo on the property and sought a detailed report by October 27 on the existence of a temple on the land, its management, and the total area involved.

The Boarding Bachao Kriti Samiti has demanded that the deal be completely scrapped, reiterating that the land belongs to the community and should not be commercialized.