Former MP from Gujarat Dinu Solanki has accused Gir Somnath district collector of corruption and challenged him. Behind his volley of attacks against the collector is the exemption denied under the land ceiling limit to the Diu, Una, and Delwada Mahajan Panjrapole Trust’s 280 acres of land, currently under Solanki’s control. 

During a victory meeting of the Kodinar Municipality, former MP Solanki accused the Gir Somnath district collector of corruption and compared him to a ‘modern Mahmud of Ghazni’, challenging him to fight the case up to the Supreme Court. 

The main reason behind his opposition to the collector is said to be the Una Sub-Divisional Officer’s order regarding the land ceiling limit of the Delwada Mahajan Panjrapole Trust. The 280-acre land of this trust is currently under the possession of Solanki.  

This trust has been operational since 1976. At that time, the trust had applied for exemption under the Gujarat Agricultural Land Ceiling Act before the Rajula deputy collector. In 1982, the Rajula Deputy Collector approved the exemption. 

However, it was later observed that instead of using the land for cattle grazing or fodder storage, it was used for growing crops, which violated the provisions of the act.

Subsequently, in 2012, the Veraval deputy collector issued an order. The revenue department later revoked this order and instructed a hearing for the trust.  

On January 4, 2025, the Una sub-divisional officer rejected the application for exemption under the Gujarat Agricultural Land Ceiling Act for the Diu, Una, and Delwada Mahajan Panjrapole Trust’s land, originally covered under the act on August 23, 1976. 

This land is currently under the possession of Solanki and his close associates. After this order, as difficulties arose, Solanki began making accusations against the collector, and messages about this have gone viral. The buzz is that this reaction is due to personal distress.  

According to sources from the revenue department, an appeal has been filed against the order, and since a stay has been granted, no further action has been taken by the administration to reclaim the land.  

Former Kodinar MLA, parliamentary secretary, and former vice president of Gir-Somnath BJP, Jethabhai Danabhai Solanki, said, “Former MP Dinu Solanki is making accusations against Collector D D Jadeja for his vested interest. The administration has passed an order as per government directives regarding the Panjrapole’s land worth crores of rupees that was wrongfully occupied. Since 280 acres of land are at risk of being reclaimed, the former MP is agitated and is making allegations against the Collector to create fear among officials. He is attacking the Collector to satisfy his ego.”

Jethabhai has also appealed to the prime minister and chief minister to ensure proper protection for the officer.

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