The State Inspector General of Registration (IGR), Hiralal Sonawane, has requested more time to locate the sale and transfer documents of 45 Old Grant Bungalows (OGBs) in Pune Cantonment. As these properties were registered over the past two decades, the IGR’s office faces the challenge of retrieving historical documents to identify illegal sales, transfers, and unauthorized occupiers.
The request for these documents came from the former Director of Defence Estates, Saurav Ray, on January 31, emphasizing the urgency of the matter. The list of 45 OGBs, including prominent locations such as Queens Garden, Middle Road, Napier Road, Dr. Coyaji Road, Tarapore Road, Cross Road, and Staveley Road, was annexed by Ray.
According to Hiralal Sonawane, while they have essential details like survey numbers, bungalow numbers, and road names from the Director of Defence Estate’s office, locating documents from two decades ago requires additional information. Officials have been instructed to gather specific details, and PAN information related to these properties is crucial for the task.
Saurav Ray’s letter highlighted the discovery of numerous illegal bungalow transactions within Pune Cantonment, executed without government consent. The cantonment area now houses individuals who obtained these bungalows by deliberately concealing information. The letter further noted security concerns, revealing instances where dishonest individuals acquired a bungalow using records from the Enforcement Directorate. Builders and promoters have also unlawfully sold prestigious bungalows.
Given that cantonments primarily serve as military quarters, such unauthorized intrusions into prime bungalows raise serious concerns, especially when the Local Military Authority (LMA) lacks defence land for legitimate purposes.
