Sanjay Raut Asks CM Fadnavis To Probe NCP MLA’s ‘Illegal Mining’, Royalty Evasion

Last Updated:July 02, 2025, 12:07 IST

The Shiv Sena (UBT) MP said Sunil Shelke used government-allotted industrial land for illegal sand and stone mining, causing huge losses to the state exchequer

Sanjay Raut alleged that Shelke’s mining activities have damaged local village roads and caused severe inconvenience to villagers. (PTI)

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has fired a fresh salvo at the Ajit Pawar-led NCP by writing a detailed letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, accusing Pawar’s close aide Sunil Shelke of serious misuse of government land and massive royalty evasion worth crores.

In his letter dated June 25, Raut alleged that Shelke, who represents the Maval constituency, used government-allotted industrial land for illegal sand and stone mining, causing huge losses to the state exchequer. According to Raut, Shelke and his relatives extracted minerals from industrial plots in several survey numbers spread over more than 29 hectares in Maval area, but did not pay any statutory royalty for the extracted material.

Raut pointed out that Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) had acquired the said lands under Section 6 of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Act for promoting industrial development. However, instead of using the land for its intended purpose, Shelke allegedly misused it for large-scale mining. Raut has also attached details of land survey numbers and mining quantities in his letter.

The Shiv Sena MP further alleged that Shelke’s mining activities have damaged local village roads and caused severe inconvenience to villagers. He questioned why no strict administrative action has been taken despite repeated complaints and media reports.

Highlighting the scale of the alleged scam, Raut stated that royalty worth several thousand crores has been evaded and questioned whether the state government would recover the huge loss. He also accused local officials, including MIDC officers and district administration, of ignoring these illegal activities and demanded an immediate high-level investigation.

Raut warned that if the state does not act, it would send a wrong message to honest farmers and landowners whose lands were acquired for industrial use but are being exploited for personal gain by politically powerful individuals. He urged Fadnavis and Pawar to order a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the matter and to initiate recovery of the evaded royalty.

Raut concluded by stating that this case is a glaring example of how public land is being looted under the guise of development and demanded that action be taken not just against Shelke but also against the officials who allegedly turned a blind eye to the misuse.

When contacted, Shelke told News18: “Every morning, Sanjay Raut makes some or the other allegations against leaders. On what basis is he accusing me of evading royalty? What proof has he got against me? Why was he silent when he was with us? All his allegations are baseless and have no substance in them."

Mayuresh Ganapatye

Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa...Read More

Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa...

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News politics Sanjay Raut Asks CM Fadnavis To Probe NCP MLA’s ‘Illegal Mining’, Royalty Evasion