Maharashtra Revokes Rs 4.9 Crore Sand Mining Penalty Exemption for Jarange Aide
The case concerns the alleged illegal excavation and transportation of more than 2,000 tonnes of sand from the Godavari riverbed.
By Sakshi
New Delhi, September 28: In an alleged illegal sand mining case in Maharashtra’s Jalna district, authorities have revoked an order that had exempted an associate of Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange from a Rs 4.90 crore penalty, officials said on Monday.
The action followed an administrative review of the amended order that had previously excluded Sanjay Nanasaheb Katare from the penalty proceedings.
According to officials, the case concerns the alleged illegal excavation and transportation of more than 2,000 tonnes of sand from the Godavari riverbed at Sashtapimpalgaon and Domalgaon in Ambad tehsil of Jalna district.
The then-sub-divisional officer had imposed a penalty of Rs 4.9 crore on 18 people in April 2023, including Katare, a member of the core committee of Jarange’s movement, they said.
Katare objected to his inclusion in the proceedings, following which the then-tehsildar issued an amended order removing his name from the penalty.
A local resident later approached the state revenue minister, challenging the decision.
An investigation was subsequently conducted on the directions of the Jalna district administration, raising questions about the role of the minor minerals branch and the then-tehsildar.
On September 21, Ambad Sub-Divisional Officer Umakant Pardhi cancelled the previous amended order and directed that the penalty be restored against the concerned land and recovered as arrears of land revenue, officials said.
He also directed that the Jalna district collector be sent a proposal seeking disciplinary action against the then-tehsildar and the officials involved.
Jarange called off his 20-day fast on September 17 and warned that he would shift the protest to Mumbai if his demands for Maratha reservation were not met within three months.
He has been seeking reservation for Marathas under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category by recognising them as Kunbis.
(Inputs from PTI)
