Vadodara: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) is set to take over a plot of land adjoining the Tandalja residence of former cricketer and Trinamool Congress MP Yusuf Pathan, following a Gujarat High Court ruling in its favour.

The dispute surfaced last year when it was alleged that Pathan had encroached on the civic body-owned plot. After VMC issued him a notice, Pathan moved the Gujarat High Court, which has now upheld the civic body’s stand, VMC land and estate officer (commercial) Suresh Tuver confirmed.

Pathan had first applied for the land in 2012, and VMC had even passed resolutions to allot it to him at the upset value. However, since the allotment was proposed without a public auction, the matter was referred to the state government, which rejected the proposal in 2014. In 2024, VMC again issued a notice to Pathan asking him to remove encroachments, which he challenged in court.

The Tandalja property itself is jointly owned by Pathan and his family members, but the disputed parcel — Plot No. 90 of Survey Number 22 — belongs to the civic body. Tuver said that after the High Court order, VMC can directly take possession of the land without issuing any fresh notice. DeshGujarat