Translation by Kartikeya Tanna, Ahmedabad, 18 July 2012

List of allegations against Dileep Sanghani and Sanghani’s response

1) Seven acres of land to a trust run by Sanghani’s relatives at throwaway prices

Allegation: A trust has been given around seven acres land belonging to the Amreli municipality run primary school at throwaway price. The market value of this land is around Rs 50 to 60 crore. The trust was originally run by Dwarkadas Patel’s father, but the trust is now under the name of Sanghani’s family and aides.

Response: The responsibility to run the primary school – M.V. Patel Girls School – has been handed over to the Amreli Patel Students’ Ashram pursuant to a resolution of the Education Department dated 14-11-2006. Amreli Patel Students’ Ashram was set up around 100 years ago when Dileep Sanghani was not even born. There is no question of Dileep Sanghani establishing his own trust. No member of Sanghani’s family is in the trust.

2) Two acres of land meant for feeding cows grabbed by Sanghani

Allegation: Sanghani has grabbed around 1.5 to 2 acres of land meant for feeding cows in Amreli beside the aforementioned land. Sanghani used his MLA grant amount to construct a compound wall on the land which has been illegally joined with the seven acres of land for the primary school.

Response: An open plot of land belonging to to Smt. T.P. and M.T. Government School has been granted to Amreli Municipality in 2008-09. In order to ensure the security of the open ground, a compound wall was erected with funds given by Sanghani to Amreli Municipality from his MLA grant. The compound wall has been built in accordance with the conditions of the grant.

3) Reins of management given to Sanghani’s nephew and aides

Allegation: Due to the fact that the Amreli Municipality is BJP-run, the reins of managing Gandhibaag and a swimming pool were given to Sanghani’s nephew and aides.
Response: The reins of managing Gandhibaag and swimming pool are with the Amreli Municipality and neither Sanghani nor any of his family members or relatives is a part of it. Its members are those representatives elected by Amreli voters.

4) BJP-ruled Taluka Panchayat gave away land to Sanghani

Allegation: By a mere resolution, the land adjoining the quarters on the main road beside S.T. Depo was given to a district bank whose chairman is Sanghani. This is because that area is under the jurisdiction of a BJP-ruled Taluka Panchayat.

Response: Keeping in mind the benefit of Amreli farmers, the Amreli district bank had requested Taluka Panchayat to give the land adjoining the quarters. This decision has been opposed by a Congress member in the District Panchayat. Till date, this land is under the control and ownership of the Taluka Panchayat and has not been given to Amreli district bank. Incidentally, the opponent is Bhavna Sukhadiya, the wife of the RTI activist making complaints against Sanghani.

5) Water works and land allotted to a dairy set up by Sanghani

Allegation: In 1969, Congress representatives had established a fench well in the Shetrunji river flowing in the nearby village of Gavadka as a result of which water requirements of Amreli were met. This land and the fench well is under the control of Amreli Municipality. By a mere resolution, the water works and land was allotted to Amar Dairy set up by Sanghani.

Response: This allegation is a complete figment of imagination. The land in question is in non-use and is with the Amreli Municipality.

6) BJP-ruled organization sold land to Sanghani’s aides

Allegation: The BJP-ruled Amreli Jilla Kharid Vechan Sangh has sold its godown and land situated on Varsada road to Sanghani’s aides at throwaway prices.

Response: The decision to sell the godown and land in question has been taken by a Congress representative late Mr. Manubhai Kotadiya on 15-1-2003 pursuant to a resolution of the management committee meeting. In accordance with the rules contained in this resolution, the land was sold via public auction. The buyer of land is not related in any manner to Dileep Sanghani.

7) BJP-ruled organization sold godown to dairy set up by Sanghani

Allegation: Amreli Jilla Kharid Vechan Sangh’s godown situated on Gavadka Road has been sold to Amar Dairy set up by Sanghani at throwaway price.

Response: Amreli Jilla Kharid Vechan Sangh had purchased this land from Gujarat State Co-operative Marketing Federation Ltd. (GUJCOMASOL) during the tenure of the Congress government at Rs. 5.50 lakhs. For the benefit of farmers and cattle-breeders of Amreli district, that land has been given on rent to Amar Dairy at Rs. 22,000 after taking a deposit of Rs. 5 lakhs. No sale or transfer has taken place.

8) School property transferred to college started by Sanghani’s aide

Allegation: A property belonging to Taluka School has been transferred to a dairy science college started by a trust run by Sanghani’s aide.

Response: Three years ago, the said property was given on rent on to dairy science college established by Kamdhenu University pursuant to Congress-ruled municipality’s resolution. The Kamdhenu University has not been established by the trust, but by the government. The government pays timely rent to the municipality. The ownership of the property is of the municipality. In any event, Sanghani has nothing to do with the so-called trust.

9) Governmental gauchar land allotted for bull-breeding

Allegation: The governmental gauchar land (land meant for cow grazing and breeding) situated in Pratappara has been allotted for breeding of bulls.

Response: The said land has been allotted by the Revenue Department pursuant to governmental resolutions to the Agriculture and cooperatives department under governmental scheme. The land still belongs to the government. How this can be deemed as corruption is baffling. Moreover, the Congress never thought of doing any such work for cows of Gir for 50 years.

10) Prime land allotted to Sanghani’s cousin without any levy of taxes or charges

Allegation: The land adjoining S.T. Depo belonging to the Amreli Municipality has been allotted to Sanghani’s cousin at a mere Rs. 95,000. The market value of the land is Rs. 1.35 crore. Though a shopping center has been set up on that land, there is no record of it on the municipality books as a result of which no taxes and charges have been levied.

Response: This land was transferred to Hareshbhai Ramani by the Congress-ruled Municipality pursuant to resolution dated 24-07-1998. Sanghani has not taken any decision pertaining to transfer of land.

11) Use of good offices to transfer land to relatives

Allegation: A decision has been taken to return back the land acquired for veterinary hospital to its original owner. However, Sanghani is taking steps to transfer the land from the original owner to his relatives.

Response: The land allotted for veterinary hospital is under the ownership of the government and the possession is with the hospital. There has not been any decision to return back the land to its original owner. However, for the last 50 years, the Congress-ruled governments did not take any care in maintaining the hospital’s condition as a result of which the hospital is in dire condition. The present government has had to spend lakhs of rupees to repair it and maintenance works are under progress.

12) Use of good offices to transfer land to relatives

Allegation: The land in Hirakbaag belonging to Amreli Municipality has been transferred by a mere resolution to a trust set up by Sanghani’s relatives.

Response: The said land in question belongs to the Amreli Municipality which is used for the municipality’s garage and fire-brigade department.

13) Agricultural development scheme scam of Rs. 4.19 crores

Allegation: Sanghani is involved in a scam of cutting the boundaries of Jaswantgadh, Chital, Sandhiya, Devrajiya, Shedubhar, Menpur, Timba and Khijadiya villages and joining the land. This is being done for Gujarat State Land Development Corporation under a state agricultural developmental scheme. This scam amounts to Rs. 4.19 crores.

Response: In order to increase the depth of ponds, wild shrubs are being cut in different areas by Gujarat State Land Development Corporation. These works are being carried out for the development of Amreli district. The cost of these works amount to Rs. 441.14 lakhs. To say that all the work done so far is corruption is bizarre.

14) National Horticulture Mission scam of Rs. 3.25 crores

Allegation: 11 members of Sanghani’s family have been passed on the benefit of Rs. 3.25 crore under the pretext of greenhouse development in Nal taluka in Savarkundla for the National Horticulture Mission.

Response: This allegation is a compete figment of imagination of the complainants. No member of Sanghani’s family has received any such benefit in any manner. In an RTI query done by Sanghani’s brother to the horticulture department, Sanghani has also produced the response containing no mention of any member of his family. The RTI response is available at

Also read:
Senior Gujarat minister fights back against charges of corruption
Under attack by MSM and Congress, Dileep Sanghani fights back

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