Return 20 acres allotted by Vilasrao for film school: HC to Subhash Ghai

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Rajendra Sontakke and four others from Latur and Osmanabad alleging “gross abuse of power” by former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in allotting land to Ghai on October 24,2000.

After going over the map of the 20-acre plot,that showed the land occupied by the institute,Chief Justice Mohit Shah said,“Rest of the area should be handed over (to the state government) now.”

Arguing for Ghai,senior counsel Prasad Dhakephalkar said,“But what about the construction that I (Ghai) have carried out? I have spent close to Rs 100 crore.” Justice G S Godbole remarked,“You can take your structure.” Dhakephalkar said he would just be left with rubble. “Demolition will not serve any purpose. The whole litigation is against Deshmukh,but nothing will change for him. I am unnecessarily caught in the fire. We all know why people from Latur come and file petitions here,” he said.

He said the institute was the lifeline of all the people who worked and taught there. “Please don’t ask for the institute to be demolished,” Dhakephalkar pleaded. Justice Godbole said,“All these years you have not paid anything. What about the loss to the government?”

In an affidavit submitted by the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department,it was stated that the land was valued by the CAG of India at Rs 31.20 crore at Rs 3,900 per sq m.

Dhakephalkar said,“Let the CAG assess the loss to the government in 2000 when the land was allotted. I am willing to pay with interest.” He told the court that Ghai had started the WWIPL — Asia’s largest film,television,animation and media arts institute — to give back to the profession and had no private interest in it.

“It is hard to believe you have no private interest. You have consistently refused to affiliate with the AICTE,” Justice Godbole said. Dhakephalkar,however,said WWIPL’s MBA courses are affiliated with the Manipal University.

Sontakke’s counsel Mahesh Jethmalani said,“Shah Rukh Khan’s most expensive movie Ra.One was shot there. They can’t say they have earned no money.”

Jethmalani and lawyer Bhushan Mahadik told the court that a CBI inquiry should be ordered into the matter to probe the allotment of the land to Ghai. “As a deterrent,there should be a CBI inquiry,” Jethmalani said. The petitioners alleged it was Deshmukh who was primarily interested in the joint venture between Mukta Arts and Filmcity Corporation to start WWIPL as his son Riteish Deshmukh is an actor.

The court has asked the BMC and the Collector (suburban) to verify the claims of WWIPL that it occupied 5.26 of the 20 acres allotted to it and adjourned the case till November 18.