Gujarat Minister Mukesh Patel Faces Rs.219-Crore Land Scam Allegations in Surat Power Grid Project

Surat | Gujarat — The Gujarat political scene has erupted after Congress leader Dr. Tushar Chaudhary accused Minister Mukesh Patel of being involved in a ₹219-crore land scam in the Surat Power Grid project. According to Dr. Chaudhary, the Mukesh Patel Surat land scam involves manipulation of land acquisition processes in Olpad to favor BJP leaders, their relatives, and close associates.

Land Acquisition for Power Grid Changed Overnight

Dr. Chaudhary alleged that in Olpad taluka of Surat, the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) had initially proposed land acquisition for a 765 KVA substation at Takarama, Gola, and Rajnagar villages.

However, within just 15 days, the location was abruptly shifted to Olpad village, where BJP leaders and their families had allegedly purchased agricultural lands and converted them to non-agricultural (NA) status just before the official notification.

The Congress leader claimed, “For the benefit of BJP leaders, the Power Grid location was changed overnight. The government was supposed to pay ₹69 crore for cultivated land, but by converting it into uncultivated NA land, the price shot up to ₹219 crore, causing a massive loss to the state exchequer.”

Congress Alleges Collusion Between Minister and Officials

Addressing the media, Dr. Tushar Chaudhary, Leader of the Congress Legislative Party, accused the Olpad MLA and Minister Mukesh Patel of purchasing lands in Olpad just before the official change of location.

“These lands were made NA in record time, indicating collusion between local officials and political leaders,” Chaudhary alleged. He further claimed that the minister and his associates had prior information about the substation project, allowing them to profit from the inflated land valuation.

Dr. Chaudhary questioned, “Why were the three original villages dropped from the plan? Why was Olpad suddenly chosen? How many land deals took place between October 2024 and August 2025, and who benefitted from them?”

Loss to Government Estimated at ₹219 Crore

According to the details shared, if the land had been acquired from the previously selected villages — Takarama, Gola, and Rajnagar — the government’s cost would have been around ₹69 crore. However, since the land was reclassified and declared uncultivated NA, the compensation amount tripled to ₹219 crore.

Dr. Chaudhary stated that this deliberate manipulation directly benefitted BJP office bearers and their families in Olpad. “The scam was systematically executed with the help of insiders in the administration,” he said, demanding an immediate SIT (Special Investigation Team) probe into the entire episode.

Demand for SIT Probe and Accountability

Calling it one of the biggest recent land scams in South Gujarat, the Congress leader demanded that the Chief Minister and Forest Department ensure an independent and transparent investigation. He urged the government to clarify whether Mukesh Patel, who serves as Minister of State for Forest and Environment, had violated his oath of office by using insider information for personal or political gain.

Dr. Chaudhary emphasized that the Mukesh Patel Surat land scam represents “how power and position are being used to convert public projects into private profit schemes.”