PM Modi’s School Mate Vohra Gets Major Relief in Prolonged Land Dispute

Mumbai: In a major development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s school friend, Asgar Ali Vohra, has secured significant relief in a 15-year-old land dispute. BJP MLA Narendra Mehta’s construction firm has announced that it will vacate the disputed land in Bhayandar and surrender its construction permits.

81-year-old Asgar Ali Vohra, a resident of Mira Road near Mumbai, Maharashtra, recently met his schoolmate PM Narendra Modi. Mira Road resident Asgarali Vohra said he attended BN School in Vadnagar along with the 75-year-old PM. Vohra had alleged that a construction company owned by BJP MLA Narendra Mehta had illegally occupied his land in Bhayandar. Days after the meeting, Mehta announced on Tuesday that he is giving up possession of the disputed plot and withdrawing the construction permission granted for it. Mehta added that he is also withdrawing a prior complaint filed against Vohra.

Vohra's Allegations Against Forged Land Documents

Vohra met the Prime Minister on September 8 to request his intervention in the matter. Vohra stated that he had purchased approximately 2,810 square meters of land in the Navghar area of Bhayandar (East) in 1989. However, in 2011, 'Swayam Builders' and Mehta's 'Seven Eleven Constructions' took over the plot. Vohra had been pursuing the matter with various government agencies for the past 15 years and noted that he received a positive response during his meeting with the Prime Minister.

Following the high-level meeting, state officials took swift action. On Tuesday, Srikar Pardeshi, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, convened a meeting at Mantralaya. The meeting was attended by Vohra, Mehta, Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation Commissioner Radha Vinod Sharma, and Town Planner Purushottam Shinde.

Relief After Prolonged Dispute

During the meeting, Mehta submitted a letter to the Town Planning Department stating that he is relinquishing possession of the disputed land and surrendering the building permissions granted for it. Mehta noted in the letter that the land was originally purchased from Mervin Fernandes in 2019. In a separate letter to the Police Commissioner, the MLA stated that he is withdrawing his previous complaint against Vohra following an amicable settlement between both parties.

Vohra earlier said he was confident the issue will be resolved after his meeting with PM Modi, where he sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation. He was happy to see things have begun moving in the case since, with municipal officials calling the management of the two firms on September 16 for an explanation.