A prime area, with rates as steep as Rs 10 crore per acre and flats costing around Rs 6000 per sq ft, the church goers are protesting against the sale of this land which they believe ideally belongs to the church.

On Tuesday, members of the Seventh Day Adventists church in the area took out a silent protest march. "We do not want any area being sold out for development. This is the church area and we do not want this area to be sold to any outside party," said Sanathan Rakshe, one of the church members, who led the protest march. While Dinkar Khandgale, Elder of church, said that as members they regulary pay tithe, or contribution for development of church activities, and the management cannot decide any sale without consulting the members who contribute nearly one tenth of their pay.

The members also allege that the management is selling prime property to garner huge money with property prices on a rise in the area. A leading builder and a member of Promoters and Builders Association of Pune said that if it is a residential zone, then the rates would be at Rs 20 crore per acre and if it is semi-public zone it would come to Rs 10 acre per acre. "This is prime land and any investor would want to put his money here," he said.

Meanwhile, the executive members of the church said that negotiations were on and the decision is yet to be taken. "A resolution to sell the 24.31 acres was passed and we talking with a leading city builder. But we do not want to share any details," said the member requesting anonymity.

Chairman of the India Financial Association of the Seventh Day Adventist Ron Watt told The Indian Express that they had issued a public notice for the same on February 24 inviting suggestions and objections.

Advocate Kaustubh Kulkarni issued the notice which stated that the church members have "got a good and marketable title as regards the said property, except the same being falling under Public Semi Public Zone and same is free from all encumberances, encroachments whatsoever in nature.