Gujarat govt approves land allotment to Yusuf Pathan after 14 years

The Gujarat government has approved the allotment of a 978-square-metre plot in Vadodara to Lok Sabha MP and former cricketer Yusuf Pathan, ending a process that remained stalled for 14 years.

The land, adjacent to his residence, has been valued at Rs 20.53 crore, but Pathan will have to wait for the final approval before taking possession, reported India Today.

VMC to decide final price and payment

The state government has issued the necessary orders to the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC), the report stated. The civic body will place the proposal before its Standing Committee after determining the minimum base price for the land. The amount Pathan must pay has not yet been finalised and will be decided after the corporation examines the government order.

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VMC Commissioner Arun Babu said the corporation had received the state government's approval. The remaining process will be completed after the committee clears the proposal.

Land proposal stalled after 2012 request

Pathan first approached the civic body in 2012, seeking the allotment of the plot next to his bungalow in Tandalja. The proposal was discussed at municipal meetings on March 30 and June 8 that year. The corporation subsequently began the process to grant him the land on a 99-year lease without a public auction.

The state government rejected the proposal in 2014, refusing to allow the allotment without an auction.

Encroachment dispute reached Gujarat HC

The dispute resurfaced in 2024, when the corporation ordered immediate action to remove the alleged encroachment on the plot. Pathan challenged the decision before the Gujarat High Court.

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After the High Court dismissed the petition on August 21, 2025, Pathan challenged the single judge’s order before a division bench.

The High Court, during a hearing on June 8, 2026, asked how the state government land had been occupied without a legal allotment or payment. The court also raised concerns about the role of municipal officials in the matter.

Pathan's lawyer sought more time to present arguments, citing the state government's policy on allotments to international cricketers.

Pathan withdrew appeal in August 2026

On August 31, 2026, Pathan withdrew his appeal before the High Court.

The latest approval follows that withdrawal. The proposed allotment will now go before the VMC Standing Committee, while the final payment amount remains undecided.

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The development comes months after Pathan and 19 other MPs broke away from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and joined the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), a registered unrecognised political party, in a move described as a rebellion against Mamata Banerjee.