A special court in Mumbai has rejected the discharge applications filed by former Maharashtra Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse, his wife Mandakini Khadse, and their son-in-law Girish Chaudhari in the high-profile Bhosari land scam, setting the stage for the formal framing of charges. The court held that the material submitted by investigators was sufficient to proceed to trial, dismissing all arguments seeking exemption from prosecution.

Special Judge Satyanarayan Navander observed that the accused appeared to have “strategically” used Khadse’s political power and position to facilitate the controversial land transaction. He added that the question of whether the Sub-Registrar should also face prosecution would be determined during the trial based on evidence presented before the court.

According to case records, the dispute centres on a plot owned by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) in the Bhosari industrial zone near Pune. Investigators allege that Khadse leveraged his office to ensure the land was acquired by his wife and son-in-law for ₹3.75 crore, despite its valuation at ₹31.01 crore. The Enforcement Directorate has stated that the purchase caused significant financial loss to the state.

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While Khadse and his wife have been named as accused, neither has been arrested during the course of the investigation. Chaudhari, however, was taken into custody in July 2021 and spent over two years in jail before the Supreme Court granted him bail. The court also highlighted procedural discrepancies in the execution of the sale deed, noting that the Sub-Registrar approved the transaction even though the land’s acquisition status was clearly reflected in official records and gazette notifications.

With the dismissal of the discharge plea, the case will now advance to the trial stage, bringing renewed scrutiny to one of Maharashtra’s most contentious allegations of misuse of political office for personal gain.

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