Pune Land Probe Uncovers 424 Irregular Cases; Revenue Officials Face Crackdown
Pune, 26th March 2026: The Maharashtra government has launched a major crackdown on revenue officials after a high-level inquiry revealed serious irregularities in 424 land-related cases across Pune district.
The findings have raised concerns over the misuse of provisions under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Act, particularly in areas witnessing rapid urban growth and rising property values.
The irregularities came to light during an extensive probe conducted by a committee led by the Nashik Divisional Commissioner. The panel examined 38,027 cases registered over the past five years.
However, only 2,337 cases had complete documentation available for scrutiny. Among these, 424 cases were found to involve procedural violations, questionable approvals, and inconsistencies in land records.
Speaking in the legislative council, Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the government has taken serious note of the misuse of Section 155 of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Act.
The provision, originally intended for correcting or reviewing land records, is suspected to have been used to alter ownership details and property rights in disputed cases, leading to prolonged legal conflicts.
Authorities have categorised the identified cases based on their severity:
Category A (Serious Violations):
13 cases fall under this category, where officials may face suspension and possible criminal proceedings.
Multiple Violations:
More than 30 officials linked to numerous irregular cases are likely to face immediate suspension.
Category B (Moderate Violations):
Officials involved will be transferred out of Pune division and reassigned to non-executive roles.
Corrective Measures and Case Review
As part of corrective action, the government has ordered a suo motu review of all 424 disputed cases by senior officials. Authorities aim to restore original land records within six months to provide relief to affected individuals.
In a broader effort, similar committees will be set up across Maharashtra to investigate potential misuse of land laws in other regions. These committees have been directed to submit their reports within six months.
The government is also planning to introduce amendments to the Maharashtra Land Revenue Act during the upcoming monsoon session to prevent such irregularities in the future.
The development comes amid growing complaints about the manipulation of land records in rapidly expanding urban centres like Pune, where increasing land values have intensified scrutiny of the revenue administration system.
