More skeletons tumble out of Ex-Surat Collector’s closet

Surat : Former Surat district collector Ayush Oak is embroiled in fresh corruption allegations, this time for allegedly regranting government land in violation of established land allotment procedures and granting non-agriculture (NA) permissions to benefit land mafias. The controversy centers around land in Saroli Village, Choryasi Taluka, Surat district, and has raised serious questions about the abuse of power and the exploitation of vulnerable citizens.

The land in question, bearing Block No. 19 (Survey No. 3/2/1), was originally owned by Rama Keshav, whose heirs held a direct and indirect right to the property. However, the land was sold under dubious circumstances, with allegations that land mafias, in collusion with the former Surat collector, facilitated the transaction, thereby stripping the rightful heirs of their property.

The plot thickens as one of the heirs, identified as Ishwarbhai, sought the regrant of the land through a joint application. In a surprising turn of events, Ayush Oak, then serving as Surat’s collector, regranted the land solely in the name of Ishwarbhai, effectively bypassing the rights of other family members. This decision has been criticized as a blatant disregard for the law, which mandates that land regranting should account for all eligible heirs, especially in cases where family-genealogical rights are involved.

Adding to the controversy, Ishwarbhai applied for NA permission to convert the agricultural land for non-agricultural use merely two months after the regrant. Despite the legal requirement that regranted land must remain under agricultural use for a minimum of 15 years, Ayush Oak swiftly approved the application. This action is seen as a flagrant violation of both government regulations and judicial directives, particularly since the land in question falls under the special status area provision of 73-AA, where any deviation from the intended agricultural use is considered highly suspicious and potentially criminal.

The heirs of Rama Keshav, most of whom are reportedly illiterate, were allegedly misled by the so-called buyers who promised them alternative land in exchange for their rights. Instead, these heirs are now landless and face an uncertain future, as they struggle to assert their rights over the property that legally belongs to them. The case has brought to light the exploitation of marginalized communities by powerful entities and individuals who manipulate legal processes to their advantage.

This scandal is just the latest in a series of allegations against Ayush Oak, who has been implicated in multiple land scams during his tenure as Surat’s collector. The revelation of these latest charges has prompted calls for a thorough investigation into the matter, with many advocating for stronger legal protections to prevent similar abuses in the future.

The case also raises broader questions about the treatment of vulnerable populations in land transactions and the responsibility of government officials to uphold the law without bias or favoritism. As the investigation continues, the focus will likely shift to ensuring justice for the dispossessed heirs and addressing the systemic issues that allow such corruption to persist.