• Kakkad Family’s Decade-Long Battle for Justice

Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive

In the tranquil village of Waje Wajapur, Panvel Taluka, Raigad District—within the Matheran Eco-Sensitive Zone—the Vrindavan Horticulture Society was established by LATIM Lifestyle & Resorts Ltd. on a 275-acre mountain range. The mountain forest land was divided into 165 plots and sold to NRIs and high-net-worth individuals (HNIs).

Among the buyers was Anita Ketan Kakkad, who purchased three plots (L1, L2, L3) totaling 2.5 acres in 1995-96.

At that time, Bollywood actor Salman Khan was still an emerging star, far from the powerful celebrity he would become by 2014, when the Kakkads returned to India to fulfill their dream of building an eco-friendly ashram and a Ganpati temple.

The Land Transaction and Road Access Controversy

Veteran scriptwriter Salim Khan, Salman Khan’s father, reportedly mediated the land purchase, assuring the Kakkads that they had nothing to worry about, as their plots were located on a mountaintop immediately above Salman Khan’s Arpita Farms.

Originally, access to the Kakkads’ plots was via a common road behind Salman Khan’s old farmhouse, a modest structure with two rooms and a verandah. However, as of 2025, Arpita Farms has expanded into a massive 22-bungalow estate, featuring:

– Horse stables housing 24 horses
– Air-conditioned facilities, floodlights, and electrical transformers
– Massive concrete constructions allegedly built without permits

Ganpati Temple and Allegations of Blocked Access

As staunch devotees of Lord Ganpati, the Kakkad family built a small eco-friendly Ganpati temple on their property shortly after purchase. Over the years, local villagers and Adivasis visited the temple to offer prayers. However, upon the Kakkads’ return in 2014, their plans to expand the temple allegedly disturbed Salman Khan and his family.

The Kakkads claim that:

– A gate was constructed, blocking their access road.
– A horse stable was deliberately built near the illegal gate, and another stable was constructed around 2016 near their property and temple.
– The Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) had sanctioned an electricity connection for the Kakkads’ plots. A deposit was collected, and a consumer number was allotted after a physical inspection and audit of all paperwork. However, when MSEB began installing the connection, Salman Khan’s staff allegedly removed the poles forcibly in a mafia-style operation, preventing the temple from receiving electricity—while other plots in the society received power.
– Multiple attempts to install an electricity connection were allegedly blocked by Salman Khan’s staff.

Also Read: Wealthy Land Grabbers Displace Locals in Kalu Dam Villages

Intervention of Authorities & Legal Battle

When complaints were filed, Forest Officer Sunil Shivram Kapse noted that other plot owners had been granted electricity and recommended a high-level judicial inquiry. However, the temple remains without electricity, allegedly due to favoritism and illegal actions by Forest Ranger Dnyaneshwar Sapurda Sonawane and BJP officials.

In 2022, Salman Khan filed a defamation lawsuit against Ketan Kakkad after Kakkad spoke about the alleged illegalities in the land dispute during interviews on YouTube and Twitter. However, the court ruled in favor of Kakkad, dismissing Khan’s plea and recognizing Kakkad as a whistleblower. The court also permitted Kakkad to recover “costs in cause” from Salman Khan.

Appeal to Authorities & Allegations of Favoritism

The Kakkad family has appealed—and continues to appeal—to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP government to:

– Remove the illegal gate blocking their access road.
– Restore fundamental rights, including electricity and water, to their property.
– Ensure that Ganpati devotees can access the temple.

The family alleges that the BJP government’s inaction has enabled Salman Khan’s encroachment on approximately 150 acres of forest land, leading to large-scale illegal construction in the Matheran Eco-Sensitive Zone.

• A Fight for Justice or a Case of Favoritism?**

Anita Ketan Kakkad, an NRI who returned from America, and Ketan Kakkad, a U.S. citizen, continue their fight for justice. They accuse the government and authorities of supporting Salman Khan’s family, allowing the unchecked destruction of the environment and suppression of Hindu religious rights.

Their struggle, which they term “Land Jihad” and “Anti-Ganpati Temple Jihad,” raises questions about land rights, religious freedoms, and alleged favoritism in India’s legal and political system.

The Kakkads insist that, pending a Supreme Court judgment, they must be granted their fundamental rights—including road access, water, electricity, and the right to worship.

This battle between a Senior Citizen NRI Hindu couple, Ganapati Mandir and one of Bollywood’s most powerful Celebrity, has evolved into a larger fight over land ownership, religious freedom rights and alleged government bias.