Pune, 29 July 2025: A criminal case has been registered against local builder Surendra Agrawal after police investigations revealed that he had granted legal authority to men with criminal records to seize disputed land in the Kondhwa area. The move reportedly led to a violent confrontation between two groups over the land’s possession.
The incident occurred on July 12 near the Brahma County Society in the Kausar Baug area of Kondhwa. A mob of around 60 to 70 people had gathered early in the morning and were seen shouting at each other. While the police initially dispersed the crowd, tensions flared again later in the evening, resulting in a physical fight involving sticks and injuries. A criminal complaint was filed at the Kondhwa police station.
During the investigation, it was discovered that Surendra Agrawal had given a notarized power of attorney to three individuals from one of the groups involved in the clash. He cited old age and health issues as reasons for being unable to handle the matter personally and instead authorized them to act on his behalf. Agrawal had also agreed to pay these men ₹40 lakh for the task and had already issued a cheque of ₹6.5 lakh as partial payment.
Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar confirmed that one of the men who received the authority had previously been charged with murder. Based on these findings, a criminal case has been registered against Agrawal.
The case highlights how disputes over prime real estate in Pune continue to trigger violence and unlawful interventions, prompting the police to take strict action against those misusing legal tools for illegal land acquisition.