Yusuf Pathan Secures Controversial Land Plot Approval from Gujarat Government
Former cricketer Yusuf Pathan receives approval for a disputed land plot in Vadodara from the Gujarat government.
Vadodara, October 20 (Daily Kiran) : Former Indian cricketer and Lok Sabha MP Yusuf Pathan has received significant relief from the Gujarat government regarding a long-disputed land plot. The state has approved the allotment of a plot located in the Tandalja area, measuring 978 square meters and valued at ₹20.53 crore.
Of the total area, 500 square meters will be gifted to Pathan for residential purposes at no cost. The remaining 478 square meters will be transferred at a 45% discount on the determined price. The state government clarified that this decision is an exception and should not set a precedent for future cases.
In compensation for the land’s value, the revenue department will allocate an equivalent plot to the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC). The final decision on the plot allotment will be made after approval from the VMC’s standing committee and general assembly. Notably, the disputed plot is adjacent to the Pathan family’s residence. Recently, Yusuf Pathan switched his political allegiance from the Trinamool Congress to the Nationalist Citizens Party of India.
In 2012, Pathan requested a 99-year lease for the plot from the VMC without auction, citing his status as a former cricketer and security concerns. The VMC had initially agreed to this proposal, which was valued at around ₹5.6 crore, and Pathan expressed readiness to pay. However, state approval was necessary for the non-auction allotment. In 2014, the Gujarat Urban Development Department denied the proposal, yet the VMC alleged that Pathan had encroached upon the land despite the cancellation.
In 2024, the VMC issued a notice to Pathan to remove the alleged encroachment. He challenged this action in the Gujarat High Court. In August 2025, the court upheld the government’s decision to reject the land allotment. During hearings in June 2026, the court questioned how an individual could claim rights to the land when no allotment had occurred, and no payments or formalities had been completed. Subsequently, on August 31, 2026, Yusuf withdrew his petition from the High Court unconditionally.
