Asgar Ali Vhora receives disputed land from former BJP MLA after meeting PM Modi

On 16 September, Asgar Ali Vhora, long‑time friend of the Prime Minister, received the disputed property at Survey No. 240 in the Indralok neighbourhood of Bhayandar from former Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Narendra Mehta, following a meeting with Narendra Modi.^[2]

Meeting that decided the land

Vhora had earlier sought the return of the site, which he claimed had been unlawfully encroached upon by a developers’ trust linked to Mehta. Reports say he presented the case to the Prime Minister on 8 September, appealing for decisive action against the encroachment.^[2][3]

In the meeting, Modi reportedly resolved the matter by instructing Mehta to relinquish the disputed plot, a decision that was executed the following day when the former MLA formalised the transfer to Vhora.^[2]

Background of the dispute

The land, located at Survey No. 240 in Bhayandar’s Indralok area, had been held by the Seven Eleven Constructions Trust, which argued it had purchased the property in 2019 and secured a building permit in 2024. The municipality, however, had not yet revoked the permit, adding to the confusion.^[3]

Earlier, the Revenue Department had removed the trust’s name from the land extract after Vhora’s complaints, but the permit remained active, prompting the contentious negotiations.^[3]

Divergent Reports on the Outcome

While the official account confirms the handover, several other outlets report that Vhora has yet to receive full possession of the plot, and that Mehta retains the title. The discrepancy stems from differing interpretations of the transfer documents and the timing of the property’s legal finalisation.^[1][4]

Officials from the Mira‑Bhayandar Municipal Corporation have said the matter is still under review and that a formal hearing will address the remaining legal questions about ownership and relinquishment of the building permit.^[3]

Aftermath and Next Steps

Mehta has publicly asserted that the dispute is resolved, and the Seven Eleven Trust has surrendered its construction permission to the municipal corporation as part of the settlement. The trust has requested a refund of its fees and a withdrawal of any pending FIRs against Vhora and a co‑accused, citing a mutual resolution.^[3]

The municipal corporation will conduct a hearing to finalise the transfer, adhering to regulations governing land ownership disputes. Until that process concludes, legal possession of the property remains in transition.^[3]