Waqf Board serves show-cause notices on 44 over sale of 621 gunthas of Waqf land in Dapoli

Ahead of the Dapoli Nagar Panchayat elections, a major case involving Waqf Board land has surfaced in the town, unsettling many people. In the middle of Dapoli town lies about 621 gunthas of valuable land belonging to the Waqf institution Kazi Rehman Kazi Isa. It is alleged that the land was illegally grabbed and sold in private deals for crores of rupees.

The Maharashtra State Waqf Board has sent show-cause notices to 44 people, including the leader concerned. The action has caused considerable stir in Dapoli's political and social circles.

The land is near the Dapoli Urban Science College. The original owner, Kazi Rehman Kazi Isa, donated it as Waqf through a will on September 14, 1897, for the religious, educational and medical use of the Muslim community. The institution was registered as a public trust in 1955-56. After the Waqf Act came into force in 1995, the land was required by law to come under the Waqf Board's control.

Despite this, it is alleged that a influential ruling-party political leader of the Dapoli area, together with relatives and associates, misused the authority of the Charity Commissioner. It is alleged that paperwork was muddied and the land was taken over at a very low price. Over the past few years, the leader had the land transferred to their name. The existing locality name "Udaynagar" was changed without approval to "Bhau Mohite Nagar", after the leader's partner. It is also said that permission for plotting was obtained in collusion with the local Nagar Panchayat and plots were sold for crores of rupees.

It is also alleged that, under political pressure, the administrative departments concerned turned a blind eye to the entire illegal deal. Local social activists placed papers on the irregularity before the Waqf Board, after which the Board took the matter very seriously.

According to the Maharashtra State Waqf Board's registration (No. MSBW/RTG/284/2025), the property was grabbed in violation of Sections 51 and 56 of the Waqf Act. Selling, mortgaging or taking possession of any Waqf property without the Board's permission is wholly illegal under the law. Section 52-A provides for imprisonment of up to two years for such acts. The Board has asked for a reply within 7 days on why the land should not be taken into Waqf possession and why criminal cases should not be registered against those concerned.

The number of people receiving notices is expected to rise further. It is said that influential people from the ruling party are now making a strong attempt to suppress the matter. Demand is growing among Dapoli residents for a thorough inquiry into all lands seized with political patronage. Zakir Shekasan, an office-bearer of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), has also submitted a written appeal to the District Collector. He has sought an investigation and cases against the builder lobby concerned.