Windfall Of Rs 2000 Crore Overnight For A Driver In Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar

Those with feeble memories or who do not believe in miracles or a windfall can approach a car driver in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar in Maharashtra. Reportedly, Javed Shaikh, driver of Shiv Sena MP Sandipan Bhumre has become owner of a land parcel whose market valuation is said to be around Rs 2,000 crore. Shaikh is the beneficiary of a ‘gift’ of three acres of land in the city. The donors are the family of the famous Nawab Salar Jung of Hyderabad. But the government valuation is different. When the news hit headlines, the local Economic Offences Wing asked the state revenue department to evaluate the land plot. Even as Shaikh is dealing with a notice issued by the Income-tax department, the revenue authorities have reportedly informed EOW that the value of the land as per government’s calculations is over Rs 241 crore.  Had there been a purchase agreement, the state government could have earned around Rs 17 crore by way of stamp duty and registration. However, as the land has been transferred in the name of Shaikh through a legal document called ‘Hibaanama’ (Gift Deed), no payment to the government is involved. Shaikh has asked for more time to appear before I-T authorities, whispers in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar suggest. Meanwhile Bhumre, a staunch follower of deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, has pleaded unawareness about the whole affair.