Verify land records of Subhash Ghai’s film academy: Bombay high court

The suburban collector has been issued a notice by the Bombay high court for verification of land records pertaining to Whistling Woods, the film training academy run by producer-director Subhash Ghai.

A division bench of chief justice Mohit Shah and justice Girish Godbole issued the notice on Monday, asking the collector to keep records of the allotment ready by August 2.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Rajendra Sontakke and four other agriculturists from Latur and Osmanabad alleging “gross abuse of power” by former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in allotting land.

While going through the maps of Whistling Woods, chief justice Shah raised various questions about the development of the plot at Aarey Milk Colony and the Floor Space Index (FSI) used.
Prasad Dhakepalkar, counsel for Whistling Woods, said that they were allotted 20 acres of land. However, development was allowed on only 4 acres of the plot. “We can’t shoot films in classrooms. The open space is used for shooting purposes,” argued Dhakepalkar.

Maharashtra Film Stage and Cultural Development Corporation Limited (MFSCDCL) had entered into a joint venture with Mukta Arts to start Whistling Woods at an authorised share capital of Rs20 crore. Mukta Arts was to put in Rs17 crore and MFSCDCL was to get the land allotted. MFSCDCL and Mukta Arts were to share equity in a ration of 15% and 85% respectively.

The PIL allege that it was Deshmukh who was primarily interested in the joint venture because of his son and Bollywood actor Reitesh Deshmukh, and hence 20 acres of land was allotted to Whistling Woods International Private Limited.

Around 500 acres of land was managed and administered by the MFSCDC. Of this, 20 acres were allotted to set up a film training institute.

Vilasrao Deshmukh was chief minister from October 18, 1999 to January 26, 2003 and from November 16, 2004 to December 9, 2008.

Promoted by filmmaker Subhash Ghai, Mukta Arts Limited & Filmcity Mumbai, Whistling Woods International is Asia’s largest film, television, animation and media arts institute, providing world-class education in all technical and creative aspects of filmmaking.