Mumbai: The BJP has demanded a probe into alleged out-of-turn allotment of a plot by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) to a Latur-based firm run by actor Riteish Deshmukh and his wife Genelia Deshmukh. The two are equal partners in the firm, Desh Agro Pvt Ltd.

“Entire land allotment process should be probed, since it appears that the MIDC has favoured members of the Deshmukh family,’’ Latur BJP president Gurunath Mage and vice-president Pradip More told media persons on Wednesday.

BJP said it secured information on land allotment, loans secured and other details of the company under the Right to Information Act. The actor is the son of the late Vilasrao Deshmukh, who held two terms as chief minister of Maharashtra. As per information released by Mage and More, the firm was set up on March 23, 2021 with Riteish and Genelia as 50:50 partners. It had applied to Latur MIDC for a plot on April 5, 2021, following which a meeting of the corporation was held in Mumbai on April 9.

On April 15, 2021, the plot measuring 2,52,726 sq meters was allotted at a rate of Rs 605 per sq ft. The firm deposited Rs 15.28 crores with the MIDC for it. BJP’s contention is that with a share capital of Rs 7.5 crores, the firm should not have been able to buy a plot for Rs 15. 28 crore. “MIDC allotted the plot under the priority category while 16 other applications are pending under the same category,’’ the BJP leaders said.

MIDC handed over the plot to the Deshmukhs’ firm on July 22, 2021, following which it applied on October 4, 2021 for a loan to Pandharpur Urban Cooperative Bank; it was sanctioned Rs 4 crore. On October 5, 2021, Latur District Central Cooperative Bank sanctioned Rs 61 crore, and later a second loan of Rs 55 crore. In all, the firm secured loans for Rs 120 crore.

“Deshmukh’s firm was allotted the plot out of turn. Against a share capital of Rs 7. 5 crore, it obtained a loan of Rs 120 crore. All these issues need to beprobed by an independent agency,’’ Mage and More said.

Responding to the allegations, Riteish said, “the plot has been accorded to my firm in accordance with the existing rules…allegations made by BJP leaders Mage and More are not based on facts. Desh Agro has been set up to help local farmers and strengthen agriculture-based industries. Soyabean processing and soyabean units will be set up on the plot, which has been allotted as per MIDC’s existing policy. ” He said the promoters have fully complied with rules and believe in social commitment. “Even financial assistance has been given to the firm as per provisions of law,” he added.