Ranjangaon Mahaganapati Devasthan’s 65-acre land missing from 7/12 records

Devasthan Trust too is unaware of this land

Shikrapur (Dist Pune) – Ranjangaon is one of the eight sacred places of Ashtavinayak. The land admeasuring 65 acres at Dhok Sangavi (Tal. Shirur) in the name of this Devasthan has been missing from the 7/12 record. Mr Shivaji Aswale, a retired army officer has written to the Governor seeking solution to the misappropriation.

1. Mr Shivaji Aswale, a retired army officer had lodged a complaint with Shirur Tehsil office in May 2024 about the missing 65 acres land at Dhok Sangavi in the name of this Devasthan.

2. He followed up the matter for the whole year; but no action was taken. Finally, the Governor’s office instructed Shirur Tehsil office, initiating action. (Editorial Perspective : Why did it take so long to take action ? Inquiry needs to be conducted into the concerned officers and action has to be taken against them )

🚨 65 acres of land belonging to Shree Kshetra Ranjangaon Mahaganapati Devasthan (one of the sacred Ashtavinayak shrines) has gone “missing” from official land records – even the Temple Trust had no clue!

⚠️ Complaint raised in May 2024 by Retd. Army officer Shivaji Asavale, but… pic.twitter.com/hzE8h8W8Sf

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) September 2, 2025

3. As per LR No 16 register, all income has been recorded as ‘Inam Varg-3’ in the name of Ranjangaon Devasthan; though the circular of 1927 has a noting about the rights to the land; the latter 7/12 records do not classify Devasthan’s land under ‘Inam Varg-3’ in Devasthan’s name but it has been recorded in the name of someone else and presently shown under ‘Inam Varg-1’.

4. The area of all 65 acres has been missing from the ownership of Ranjangaon Devasthan. Mr Aswale’s advocate Harshal Gosavi informed that he has been following up the matter for immediate return of the land to Devasthan.

Legal action will be taken – Swati Pachundkar, Chairperson, Ranjangaon Devasthan Trust

Mrs Swati Pachundkar, the chairperson of the Ranjangaon Devasthan Trust, stated that information would be obtained about Devasthan’s 65 acres of land if it is missing from the records or if the Devasthan doesn’t have it despite owning it. Later, the issue would be presented to the deputy Charity Commissioner and legal action would be taken under his guidance to get back all the land belonging to Devasthan.

Matter sent to District Collector’s Office – Tehsildar

Mr Balasaheb Mhaske, Shirur’s Tehsildar informed that on learning about the matter, a circle officer was appointed for verifying all papers and noting. The complainant has said that such notings are there in ‘Kadai Patrak’, why its record is not found under 7/12 extract and why its 7/12 was made separately. There is no information available on this issue. The matter has been forwarded to the District Collector’s office.

Editorial Perspectives

Incidents of grabbing Devasthan’s lands or transferring them to others’ names are on rise. Devotees feel that Devasthans’ lands belong to the presiding Deity; therefore, stringent action needs to be taken against the persons involved in such malpractices.