GURGAON: In a twist in the Zila Parishad’s land-grabbing case in the old city, one of the occupants has claimed to have taken the land on lease from the Wakf Board.

In July this year, Zila Parishad officials had registered an FIR against the alleged demolition of the building. The CEO of the Zila Parishad, R K Dangi, had registered the complaint and had submitted the documents relating to the land. One occupant, identified as Bunty, a native of Rewari, has submitted the documents of the lease and house tax payment done to the corporation.

“This land was taken on lease from the Wakf Board since the property is owned by the board. The claim of the Zila Parishad is untenable,” said Bunty. He also said that he was paying monthly rent to the Wakf Board and also the house tax. “The land had been converted into a garbage bin and I myself got everything cleared. The main plan was to construct shops for which permission from the Wakf Board had been secured,” said Bunty.

The registration of an FIR, he claimed, is the result of misunderstanding. “The Zila Parishad officials have no idea of the ownership of the land. In the early 1960s the land belonged to the Wakf Board and it used to be a ‘sarai’. Now it was with the Wakf Board and I got it leased in 2007 with proper documents,” said Bunty.

After the registration of FIR, the local police are now scrutinizing the ownership document of the land, which is worth crores of rupees and was under litigation for a long time. The Zila Parishad officials claimed that the department had secured a stay from high court. The local police have been provided the documents including the affidavits submitted in the court in the past.

Police, on their part, have sought the help of the revenue and land records department to ascertain the ownership of the land.

Meanwhile, the Zila Parishad officials have pledged to fight tooth and nail in their effort to reclaim the land. “The high court has been already informed about the land-grabbing attempt made in July and suitable action will be taken after consulting the legal department,” said a senior Zila Parishad official.

“Wakf board has all the document s relating to the land. “Everything will be clear once the police establishes the ownership document and satisfies the Zila Parishad department,” he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/Occupant-claims-land-in-Zila-Parishad-case-was-Wakf-Boards/articleshow/23223716.cms