Hema in plot row

“It’s also possible that such kind of grants or such kind of land at subsidised rate is given to artistes to promote art, and Hema ji in my opinion would not be the first such example, I am sure there will be many other examples who have received land to promote the arts”, said BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli.

Moreover, she was allotted another plot of 1,741 square metres in the same locality in April 1997 for Rs. 10 lakh, but since it fell partly under CRZ, she never developed it, nor did she raise 25 percent of the project cost, but continues to retain that plot, Galgali said.

A 2,000sqm plot in Oshiwara was allotted for the BJP MP’s dance academy, Natyavihar Kala Kendra, at Rs 35 per sqm (total cost of Rs 70,000), an RTI query has revealed. The value of the plot is at least around Rs 40 crores.

On Thursday, activist Anil Galgali had released information obtained under Right to Information (RTI) Act from the Mumbai suburban collector, which stated that a plot admeasuring 2,000 sq m at Ambivli in Andheri was given to the actor’s dance school at Rs 70,000.

After the case came into light, the Mumbai Suburban collector has reportedly written to Hema to hand over the old plot, which was issued to her in 1997 but saw no development whatsoever because of falling under Coastal Regulation Zone.

Based on authorities in the income division, Ms Malini had required their state government to allocate property to her Confidence for setting a craft center where audio, artwork and traditional dancing courses could be kept up.

In the clarification, the minister said that the plot was allotted as per the revenue and forest department’s policy in 1983 and 1984. The land allotted to her is part of a 29,360 sq m plot reserved as a recreational ground. However, later the plot was marked under CRZ and she sought for another plot which has now been sanctioned to her.