Gujarat’s ‘gift’ to Yusuf Pathan? Disputed Vadodara plot worth Rs 20.53 crore nears allotment
New Delhi:The Gujarat government has approved a proposal to allot a disputed 978-square-metre Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) plot in the Tandalja area to former India cricketer and ex-TMC MP Yusuf Pathan. Under the proposal, 500 square metres will be gifted to him for residential use while the remaining 478 square metres will be transferred at 55% of the assessed value. The move comes after a 14-year-long dispute over the land adjacent to Pathan’s bungalow.
The state government has issued the necessary orders to the VMC but Pathan will have to wait for the civic body’s final approval before taking possession of the land. The plot’s estimated value stands at Rs 20.53 crore, calculated at Rs 2.10 lakh per square metre. However, the final amount Pathan will have to pay has not yet been decided.
VMC Commissioner Arun Babu said the civic body had received the state government’s approval and would place the proposal before its standing committee. The process will move forward once the committee grants its approval.
How 14-year-old land dispute began
Pathan approached the VMC in 2012, seeking allotment of the plot adjacent to his residence. The proposal was discussed at municipal meetings on March 30 and June 8 that year, with the civic body considering a 99-year lease without a public auction.
However, the Gujarat government rejected the proposal in 2014, ruling out allotment without an auction. The dispute resurfaced in 2024 when the municipal corporation ordered action to remove the alleged encroachment on the land. Pathan challenged the decision in the Gujarat High Court.
On August 21, 2025, a single judge dismissed his petition and he subsequently approached a division bench to challenge the ruling.
High Court proceedings and latest development
During a hearing on June 8, 2026, the High Court questioned how the government land had been occupied without a legal allotment or the required payment. The court also raised questions about the role of municipal officials.
Pathan’s lawyer sought additional time to present arguments, citing the state government’s policy on land allotments to international cricketers.
A key development came on August 31, 2026 when Pathan withdrew his appeal before the High Court. The allotment process has now resumed following the state government’s approval. The standing committee’s decision and the final price will determine the next steps before Pathan can take possession of the plot.