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Dharashiv District Collector forms 3-member committee to investigate 4,122-acre Shri Tuljabhavani Mandir land scam

  • Result of persistent follow-up by Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh

  • Committee to submit findings within 15 days

Dharashiv, Maharashtra – Following a memorandum submitted by Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh, the District Collector of Dharashiv has constituted a 3-member inquiry committee to investigate the major land scam involving thousands of acres belonging to Shri Tuljabhavani Devi Mandir.

This development comes in response to the sustained efforts of the Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh. Shri. Sunil Ghanwat, National Organiser of the Mahasangh, had submitted a detailed memorandum to Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, drawing attention to the large-scale irregularities in the temple’s land holdings and urging a comprehensive probe as well as the immediate restoration of all encroached lands to the Devasthan. 

Committee Details

  • Chairperson: Smt. Jyoti Patil, Additional District Collector
  • Member Secretary: Shri. Omkar Deshmukh, Sub-Divisional Officer
  • Member: Shri. Mahendra Deshmukh, Government Pleader (Public Prosecutor)

The order states that the committee shall verify all relevant records and legal documents, conduct a detailed investigation into the matter, and submit its report within 15 days. 

Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh demands answers: Who is Tuljapur temple administration shielding in the 4122-acre land scam?

July 10, 2026

At the press conference: (from left) Hiralal Tiwari, Advocate Satish Gajul, Advocate Pujya Suresh Kulkarni, Arvind Pansare, and Vinod Rasal.

Dharashiv, Maharashtra – The Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh has sharply questioned the Tuljapur temple administration’s claim of ignorance regarding the major land scam involving Shri Tuljabhavani Mandir. The Mahasangh has accused the administration of trying to shield powerful culprits by claiming they possess only 400 acres, even though official government records confirm that the Nizam government had granted 1,668.14 hectares (4,122.07 acres) of land to the temple trust. 

At a press conference held in Dharashiv, former Advocate Pujya Suresh Kulkarni, Legal Advisor to the Mandir Mahasangh, who is actively fighting the legal battle for the return of the temple lands, declared that they will continue the fight till their last breath to recover the encroached land and protect the faith of crores of devotees.

He was joined by Vinod Rasal (Solapur-Dharashiv District Organiser of Mandir Mahasangh), Arvind Pansare (Hindu Janajagruti Samiti), Advocate Satish Gajul, and Hiralal Tiwari (Sanatan Sanstha). 

“Who exactly is the temple administration trying to shield by putting forward this 400-acre figure?” questioned Advocate Pujya Suresh Kulkarni.

He further stated, “When we had filed the Public Interest Litigation (PIL No. 21/2018) in the Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court on behalf of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, we had made five parties respondents to the case — the Revenue & Forest Department, Home Department, Law & Justice Department, the District Collector, and the Shri Tuljapur Devasthan Trust.

At that time itself, the District Collector of Dharashiv had submitted a detailed report on the Tuljapur land scam. That report also included a letter from the then Principal Secretary of the Law & Justice Department, Shri M.N. Gilani (who later became a Judge of the High Court), regarding the 1,668.14 hectares land scam. Despite being a respondent (party) in the case, why did the Tuljapur temple administration not file any objection or submit an affidavit in the court?”  

It is not only the Mandir Mahasangh who is saying that a scam has taken place in the temple lands. The State Government itself has officially accepted this in its documents. These documents carry the signatures of the Principal Secretary of the Law & Justice Department and the Minister. Even after being made a respondent in the court case, how can the temple administration claim that they had no information about it? The public should demand answers from the temple administration on this matter.

Details of the land scam (4,122.07 Acres):

  • 1,374.87 hectares (approx. 3,397 acres) recorded in the name of Tuljabhavani Trust but under illegal possession of private individuals linked to four Maths (monasteries). These lands were originally given as ‘Sanads’ for temple services. But today, large-scale encroachment has taken place on those lands.
  • 163.12 hectares (approx. 403 acres) of Jagdamba Trust land was illegally transferred to private persons by the then Sub-Divisional Officer without informing the main trust.
  • Even though the ‘Tenancy Law’ (Kul Kayda) does not apply to Devasthan land, out of 25.51 hectares, 3.04 acres of land was declared as ‘Protected Tenant’ and sold through a sale deed (dated 21.07.1981).
  • A Head Clerk illegally mutated 105.64 hectares (approx. 261 acres) of temple land in the names of 73 private individuals.
  • In Apsinga (Taluka Tuljapur), land of Gat Numbers 357/3 and 357/4 was transferred by showing illegal mutation entries of 15 October 1975 and 1979. Similarly, in Uphala (Dharashiv District), 64 hectares (158 acres) of land of Gat Number 107 was illegally encroached upon.

Administration’s misconduct and betrayal of crores of devotees

The speakers highlighted that the concerned clerks and other junior employees involved in the land scams were suspended from service in the name of action; but were later reinstated. They questioned how a clerk could illegally transfer hundreds of acres of land without high-level political and administrative collusion. This is seen as a major betrayal of faith of crores of devotees.

They also cited a similar case regarding the ‘West Maharashtra Devasthan Management Committee’, where records of approximately 8,000 acres out of 25,000 acres of Devasthan land have disappeared. They recalled the success in Pandharpur where, despite having 1,200 acres of land, the temple was not getting any income from it. Finally, through the legal battle fought by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Hindu Vidnyan Parishad, that 1,200 acres of land was recovered and returned to the temple.

In the Tuljapur case also, they have approached the Supreme Court demanding strict action against those who encroached upon the temple land and those looting the donation boxes. They vowed that until the entire 4,122 acres of land becomes free from encroachments and comes under the full control of the temple, their legal battle will continue in the same manner.

Maharashtra Government orders high-level inquiry into 4,122-acre Shri Tuljabhavani Mandir land scam

July 1, 2026

  • Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh’s persistent follow-up yields major success 

  • Revenue Minister directs Dharashiv District Collector to conduct inquiry

Mumbai – The Maharashtra government has ordered an inquiry into the alleged illegal transfer and sale of more than 4,122 acres of Inam land belonging to Shri Tuljabhavani Devi Mandir at Tuljapur, one of the most revered shrines for millions of Hindu devotees.

Acting on a detailed memorandum submitted by Shri Sunil Ghanwat, National Coordinator of Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh, State Revenue Minister Shri Chandrashekhar Bawankule has directed the District Collector of Dharashiv to immediately constitute an inquiry committee and submit a comprehensive report. 

Shri. Sunil Ghanwat and Satish Sonar submitting the memorandum to Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule

Historical grant and legal protection

During the Nizam era, 1,668.14 hectares (approximately 4,122.07 acres) of land were granted to Shri Tuljabhavani Devi Mandir as Inam. Under the law, this land is inalienable; it cannot be bought or sold, and the provisions of the Tenancy Act do not apply to it. Despite these legal safeguards, thousands of acres are alleged to have been illegally usurped through the collusion of revenue officials and private individuals.  

Discrepancies in records and possession

Although official records show 3,397 acres of land in the name of the Shri Tuljabhavani Sansthan, actual possession is reportedly with private individuals associated with four Mathas (monasteries). In addition, 403 acres belonging to the Jagdamba Trust were allegedly transferred directly to private individuals without the knowledge or approval of the principal trust.

The memorandum further alleges that 63.03 acres of land were illegally sold by falsely classifying them as “protected tenancy” land. In another instance, a senior revenue clerk allegedly misused his official position to record 261 acres in the names of 73 private individuals in the 7/12 land records. Furthermore, 158 acres of land in Apsinga and Uphala villages were misappropriated through illegal mutation entries.

Criminal cases must be registered immediately against all those responsible – Sunil Ghanwat 

Shri. Sunil Ghanwat

Maharashtra Mandir Mahasangh has demanded the immediate registration of criminal cases against the then Deputy District Collectors, trustees, and all other influential persons allegedly involved in these illegal transactions. The organisation has further urged the State government to exercise its statutory powers to cancel all illegal sale deeds and fraudulent 7/12 entries without delay, and restore the entire 1,666.14 hectares of land to the direct ownership and control of the Shri Tuljabhavani Mandir.

Read more on Mandir MahasanghSave Temple LandTulja Bhavani Temple Scam

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