The report of the DGP was tabled in both the Houses of the State Legislature on Wednesday by Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde. The crime branch has confirmed that the farmers did not visit Mulshi tehsil even once, and also did not meet the original owners of the land from whom they purchased it. The purchasers were also not aware of the on-going developmental work on their lands.

From the transaction, it appears that Sahara used the 69 farmers to complete the formalities required for launching the multicrore project. Once the transaction was over, they empowered the Sahara India Housing Limited to develop it as a tourism project. The land, measuring 3760 acres,was purchased during 1991 to 1997 from 265 farmers for Rs 8.35 crore, while Sahara itself purchased 42 acres from 17 farmers for Rs 45.40 lakh.

When Munde was leader of Opposition, he had alleged that underworld elements and criminals from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, New Delhi and Bihar had illegally, and through unauthorised means, purchased huge tracks of agriculture lands in Pune district, and that the land has been sold to Sahara for development. Subsequently, when Munde was inducted as Deputy Chief Minister in the alliance Government, he had ordered a CID inquiry into the whole deal.

The report confirmed that a part of the land belonged to the tribals and was procured in blatant violation of Maharashtra Land Revenue Code. Secondly, four purchasers procured the land in violation of the Agriculture Land (Ceiling on holding) Act and thirdly, part of the land was forest land.On whether the 69 persons are eligible to buy the land, the CID had sent three official letters to the Collectorof Pune on December 7, 1997, February 6, 1998 and April 18, 1998, but there was absolutely no response from the district administration.

On their links with the criminals, the CID found that there was nothing objectionable against the persons.