BJP leader accuses Uddhav Thackeray of Rs 100 crore land scam in Mumbai

A political storm erupts as BJP's Somaiya exposes alleged corruption in Mumbai's cultural land deals. Will the contracts be scrapped—or defended?

, and Administrator

2026 May 14 . 8:07 AM

1 min read

The image shows a bustling city street with tall buildings in the background. There are vehicles on... — The image shows a bustling city street with tall buildings in the background. There are vehicles on the road, a fence, poles, boards, trees, and people. The sky is filled with clouds and there is a watermark at the bottom of the image. The buildings appear to be part of a residential project in Mumbai.

BJP leader accuses Uddhav Thackeray of Rs 100 crore land scam in Mumbai

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has accused former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and ex-Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar of illegally leasing municipal land to a private contractor. The allegations, made on Wednesday, involve two key cultural sites in the city and claims of financial misconduct.

Somaiya demanded the immediate cancellation of the contracts, calling the deal a Rs 100 crore scam. The dispute centres on two plots: Mulund’s Kalidas Natyagruha and Kala Sankul, and Andheri’s Sahaji Raje Sankul. Somaiya alleged that the land was handed over in 2021 under questionable terms. He claimed the contractor was charging Rs 2,000 per plate for catering, inflating costs unfairly.

The agreement spans 15 years, far exceeding the mayor’s two-and-a-half-year term. Somaiya wrote to current Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde, urging action.

Kishori Pednekar, now Leader of Opposition in the BMC, denied the accusations. She questioned why Somaiya had stayed silent during the four years when the civic body was under administrative control rather than political leadership. The controversy has put pressure on authorities to review the contracts. Somaiya’s demand for cancellation and Pednekar’s rebuttal set the stage for further investigation. The outcome will determine whether the land deals violated municipal rules.