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A 95-year-old Borivali resident, Anusuya Devrukhkar, has sought criminal proceedings against land acquisition officials and a private builder over the alleged wrongful disbursal of more than INR 87 crore in compensation for her family's land reserved for a public garden. The family has accused authorities of releasing over INR 60 crore to the builder on the basis of disputed 1992 documents and ignoring safeguards meant for Scheduled Caste landowners under the 2013 land acquisition law. Recovery of funds is ongoing, and multiple appeals are pending before the Bombay High Court.
Anusuya Devrukhkar, 95, has demanded criminal action against officials involved in acquiring her family's land in Borivali and against a private developer, alleging wrongful release of compensation and serious misuse of authority. The family has sought recovery of the allegedly misappropriated amount and invoked provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act along with violations under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. Advertisement
The land in question, owned by the Devrukhkar family for several decades, was reserved for a public garden under the 1991 Development Plan of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai. The family belongs to a Scheduled Caste community.
In 1992, the family entered into a development agreement with the builder and executed a power of attorney in his favour, expecting assistance in getting the reservation lifted and developing the land. The matter eventually reached the Supreme Court, which upheld the reservation and directed the government to proceed with acquisition under the 2013 land acquisition law.
In 2020, the Land Acquisition Officer passed an award granting compensation of over INR 87 crore. According to the family, their names were initially omitted from the award. They have alleged that more than INR 60 crore was released to the builder during the disbursal process on the basis of disputed 1992 documents, including an unregistered agreement and power of attorney.
The family approached the Bombay High Court seeking relief. The court directed them to pursue remedies under the land acquisition framework. Following complaints, the award was revised to include the family's names. Authorities later froze and recovered around INR 21 crore from the builder's accounts and an additional INR 6 crore from the accounts of his relatives and associates.
Recovery proceedings for approximately INR 45 crore remain ongoing. An inquiry by the Revenue Department reportedly found that the then Land Acquisition Officer acted in undue haste and without obtaining the landowners consent. The Land Acquisition Tribunal subsequently held that the builder had no legal title over the land and referred to what it described as an unholy nexus between the builder and a senior officer. It also recorded serious procedural lapses in the disbursal process and enhanced the compensation payable to the landowners.
Appeals arising from the Tribunal's order are currently pending before the Bombay High Court. The builder has filed a separate appeal claiming title to the land, which has been tagged with the Devrukhkars appeal. The Collector has sought funds to clear the remaining compensation, but the civic body has not yet responded.
The family stated that while a substantial portion of the land was taken over in 2020 after compensation was sanctioned, they remained in possession of a small part where their homes stood until 2023. They have alleged that rehabilitation benefits for adult family members under the 2013 Act were denied and that mandatory safeguards meant to protect Scheduled Caste landowners were not followed.
Bhagyashree Devrukhkar, daughter-in-law of Anusuya, recalled that officials from the civic body arrived with police and bulldozers when her mother-in-law had recently undergone surgery and her husband was recovering from an operation. She said that when the family asked to see official documents, none were shown, and they were forcibly removed from their home for seeking papers. She described the experience as humiliating and said they were treated like criminals.
She further stated that the family's shops and farming activities were destroyed in a single day and that they were given only one night's shelter. With more than ten members, they searched for temporary accommodation in a dharamshala. She added that a nephew later approached the court and that, after three years, the family received some compensation which allowed them to move into proper housing. The family has demanded strict action against all officials involved, alleging injustice and violation of legal protections.
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