A plot of land that Yusuf Pathan was once asked to vacate over alleged encroachment is now set to be allotted to him by the Gujarat government as a ‘gift’. The decision has sparked a debate, with the timing drawing attention as Pathan’s exit from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and move to the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) have also become subjects of discussion and speculation.
According to media reports, the Gujarat government has approved the allotment of a 978-square-metre plot in Vadodara to the former cricketer and Lok Sabha MP. The land is located in Tandalja, next to the bungalow where Pathan lives with his family.
Reports suggest that the government has decided to allot 500 square metres of the 978-square-metre plot to Yusuf Pathan as a gift, while the remaining 478 square metres will be allotted at a 50% discount. However, the allotment is not yet complete. The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) must follow the required approval process before the transfer can go ahead.
How did the land dispute begin?
The dispute dates back to 2012, when Pathan approached the VMC seeking a 99-year lease of the plot without a public auction. At the time, the civic body’s Standing Committee and General Board approved his proposal.
The land was valued at ₹57,270 per square metre, putting the total cost at around ₹5.6 crore. Pathan had expressed his willingness to pay this amount. However, the proposal required approval from the Gujarat government because the land was being allotted without an auction.
In June 2014, the state’s Urban Development Department rejected the proposal. The VMC later alleged that Pathan had fenced off and occupied the land despite the rejection.
Why was Pathan asked to vacate the land?
In June 2024, the VMC issued an encroachment notice to Pathan, asking him to remove the alleged encroachment from the municipal plot. Pathan challenged the notice in the Gujarat High Court. In August 2025, a single judge upheld the government’s earlier decision to reject the land allotment.
The court observed that occupying public land for a long period without paying for it did not give anyone a legal right to own or retain it. It also cautioned against giving special treatment to celebrities and public figures.
Pathan subsequently appealed against the order.
During hearings in June 2026, a Division Bench questioned how someone could remain in physical possession of public land without completing the allotment process or making the required payment. The court also indicated that any unauthorised occupation, if established, would need to be considered separately while deciding possible damages.
Pathan later withdrew his appeal. On August 31, the court recorded the withdrawal and dismissed the case as withdrawn. His lawyer told the court that the matter could be resolved outside the court.
How did the Gujarat government approve the allotment?
According to reports, the state government issued a resolution approving the allotment on August 13. The VMC received it on August 29. Two days later, Pathan withdrew his appeal before the High Court.
The government resolution states that the arrangement should not be treated as a precedent for similar cases. It also provides that the state’s Revenue Department will allot other municipal land of equivalent value to the VMC to compensate for the transfer.
Reports suggests, Vadodara Municipal Commissioner confirmed that the civic body had received the government’s approval. However, he said the details were yet to be finalised and that the conditions needed to be examined.
The proposal has been prepared by the VMC’s Land Estate Department and placed before the Standing Committee. It will require further consideration by the civic body’s General Board before the process can move forward.
Plot valued at ₹20.5 crore
The land’s valuation has also become an important part of the debate.
In July 2026, the VMC Standing Committee began preparing to auction the plot and approved a valuation of ₹2.10 lakh per square metre. Based on this rate, the 978-square-metre plot was estimated to be worth around ₹20.5 crore.
The auction proposal was later withdrawn after the General Board raised questions about the alleged encroachment. Members said the issue needed to be settled before the land could be disposed of.
The difference between the earlier valuation of around ₹5.6 crore in 2012 and the 2026 estimate of ₹20.5 crore has added another dimension to the dispute.
What about Pathan’s political shift?
Pathan’s political developments have also attracted attention alongside the land decision.
He entered Parliament in June 2024 after winning the Baharampur Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal on a TMC ticket. He defeated Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who had represented the constituency five times.
According to reports, Pathan and 19 other TMC MPs announced in June 2026 that they were joining the NCPI. The group met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and sought separate seating arrangements from the TMC. Their request was reported to be pending.
In September 2026, Pathan was reported to have been appointed vice president of the NCPI.
The timing of the Gujarat government’s approval and Pathan’s reported political shift has prompted public discussion.
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