The opposition Congress claims the civic body has agreed to grant Mr Patel’s company, Dharmanandan, 18,000 sq m of residential land as one single plot in gross violation of rules.
The company owned 23 plots on the outskirts of the city, around 30,000 sq km in total. Of this, 12,000 sq km was taken over by the civic body for a town planning scheme. The group, sources said, had sought that the remaining 18,000 sq km be allotted to them in one chunk – a ploy to increase the value of the land.
The civic body has accepted the demand and a draft Town Planning proposal has been sent to the government accordingly for approval, sources said.
“The Dharmanandan Group has also made an application for changing land use,” said Congress councillor Nitin Bharucha.
The plot next to where Mr Patel wants his 18,000 sq m allotted, is reserved for social infrastructure purpose. But now state sports minister Nanubhai Vanani has recommended that the land use be changed and a sports complex be built there instead, sources said.
A sports complex will turn the locality into a posh one, further increasing the value of Dharmanandan Group’s plot. “This raises a lot of questions about favouritism,” said Mr Bharucha.
The civic body officials have denied the charges.
“Everything was done as per rules and the Town Planning committee hasn’t done anything illegal,” said Babu Jirawala, chairman of the corporation’s town planning committee.
In February, Mr Patel bought the navy blue suit with PM Modi’s name embroidered on the fabric at an auction. The suit — made at a cost of Rs 10 lakh — was worn by the Prime Minister during US President Barack Obama’s visit to India in January, which led to a massive political controversy.
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