Despite litigation and allegations of following corrupt practices in awarding land to Bollywood director Subhash Ghai for his Whistling Woods institute in Goregaon’s Dadasaheb Phalke Film City, the State cabinet on Tuesday confirmed the transfer of 5.5 acres of land on lease.
However, as an Opposition MLA, present Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had opposed the transfer of land to Mr. Ghai and had accused the then Congress government, led by late Vilasrao Deshmukh of following corrupt practices.
“The decision has been taken considering various ongoing and previous litigations in the Bombay High Court. This is a reputed institute, which gives training in film, television and other art sectors and its administration is looked after by Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Therefore, the 5.5 acres of land on which the institute has been built will be given on lease,” an official from the Cultural Department of the state government said.
The norms applied to other educational institutes will be applicable to Whistling Woods as well, he added. “Since the case is currently going on, the decision has been shown to the court and it will be under the purview of the final verdict.”
The previous government had accepted that legal process was not followed in handing over the land in court. The CAG, too, in its report had criticised the government and pointed out the financial losses the State had suffered.
