Mumbai: Asgarbhai Vohra, 81, had studied at the same school in Vadnagar, Gujarat as Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Yet, he did not think of approaching his former schoolmate for help in resolving a land dispute in Bhayandar which he was embroiled in for at least 15 years.
Accordingly, on September 8, Vohra travelled from Gandhinagar to Mumbai, met the prime minister and submitted a letter alleging that his 2,810-square-metre land in Bhayandar East had been illegally grabbed by two builders, and sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the matter. “I bought the property around 37 years ago. But in 2011, it was grabbed by two builders, and I have been fighting this battle ever since.
Because he has a bigger responsibility of leading the nation, “I did not approach him.
I did not want to bother him with what I considered a small issue,” said Vohra, who stays in Gandhinagar. A few months ago, though, when he had a phone conversation with Modi, he told the Prime Minister about his problem and sought an appointment. “I subsequently received a call from the PMO (prime minister’s office) informing me that PM Modi would be visiting Mumbai on September 8 to inaugurate the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) at the Jio World Convention Centre, and I was asked to reach there to meet him,” he said. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Vohra said that Modi met him warmly and gave him a positive response about looking into the matter. Now that I have met the prime minister, I hope to get justice,” he told HT.
In 2015, a first information report regarding the alleged land grab was registered based on Vohra’s complaint. A criminal investigation department (CID) probe was subsequently ordered, and the report was submitted in early 2026, he said.
