Cong MP Shukla's BFES has returned plots to Maha govt: HC told

Congress MP Rajiv Shukla's Bags Films Education Society (BFES) has returned the land located in suburban Andheri to Maharashtra government, the Bombay High Court was told today.
The allocation of plots of land by the government in 2008 had created a major controversy over allegations of flouting of rules and "excessive and undue concession" rendered to BFES of which Shukla was Secretary.
The plots were meant for setting up a school and a club.
Additional government pleader Milind More today told a division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice M S Sanklecha that the plots in question are returned to the state government.

The bench was hearing a public interest litigation filed by NGO 'Save Open Spaces'.
The NGO had alleged the government illegally allotted the plots to BFES, although they were reserved for building a municipal school and for playground, at throwaway prices.

On the previous hearing, the BFES counsel informed the court they were surrendering the plots to the government.
One of the plots admeasuring 2821 sq mtrs was allotted in 2008 on ownership basis to BFES for Rs 98,375 on the basis of the 1976 rates, while the adjacent plot was given on lease for 15 years for just Rs 6,309. The PIL alleged the actual market value of these plots was to the tune of Rs 100 crore.

The education society had demanded refund of Rs 2.2 crore it had paid to the government as a deposit.
However, More told the court that no decision has been taken on the refund amount as yet.
Counsel for petitioner Vibhav Krishna had argued various ministries and government departments allegedly favoured BFES and allotted the land reserved for public purpose to BFES without verifying eligibility.
The PIL alleged the state had granted "undue and excess concession" by allotting the land in 2008 at 25 per cent of the rates for 1976 for primary school on ownership basis and 10 per cent rate for grant of lease for playground.