Forest dept wages legal battle to recover 1,500 acres in Palghar

The Maharashtra forest department filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court to recover 1,500 acres of forest land in Palghar district's Wada taluka.

The land was transferred to the Lele family on July 27, 2026, following a Bombay High Court contempt order and a Maharashtra Revenue Tribunal ruling.

Dr Jitendra Ramgaonkar, the state's chief conservator of forests, demanded an immediate stay on the decision.

The forest department issued a public appeal advising citizens not to purchase the disputed land.

In a related case, the transfer of 1,053 acres in Thane's Ghodbunder Road in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park notified area was put on hold by state revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule.