Mumbai: Latur-based BJP politicians Gurunath Mage and Pradeep More demanded a probe into the MIDC land allotment to Desh Agro Pvt Ltd, a firm controlled by Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh. Deshmukhs refuted the allegation and said the “allocation was in accordance with existing rules”.

According to Mage and More, the Deshmukhs applied for land on April 5, 2021. Their application was considered at an MIDC meeting on April 9; land was allotted on April 15. Shiv Sena leader Subhash Desai was industries minister at the time. A total of 2,52,726 sq mts was allotted to Desh Agro, which paid Rs 15. 28 crore for it.

Mage and More said while the company’s share capital was Rs 7. 5 crore, it deposited Rs 15 crore with MIDC. Desh Agro was allotted a plot under the priority category while 16 other applications were still pending with MIDC in the same category, they said.

The firm had secured loans from the Pandharpur Urban Cooperative Bank and Latur District Central Cooperative Bank. The Pandharpur bank sanctioned Rs 4 crore, while the district cooperative bank sanctioned Rs 61 crore, and a second loan of Rs 55 crore.

The Deshmukhs have denied allegations of misconduct, saying there was nothing illegal in the allotment of land intended to be used for agri processing. Riteish Deshmukh, son of former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, said the firm had complied with the rules and intended to use the land to support agri industries to benefit farmers cultivating soyabean.