Rani Mukherjee gets relief in Shirdi land deal

Aurangabad, April 9 (IANS) Bollywood actor Rani Mukherjee got a relief from the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court Wednesday in a case related to a piece of land in Shirdi.

The bench ordered status quo on the land to be maintained till June 9.

Rani Mukherjee had filed a petition in the Aurangabad bench of the high court challenging Ahmednagar district collectorate's order cancelling her ownership of a plot near Shirdi due to irregularities in the deal.

Posting Rani's petition challenging the order for June 9, Justice N.H. Patil issued notice to seven respondents, including the state revenue secretary, Ahmednagar district collector, Shrirampur sub-divisional officer, original land owner Raman Kshirsagar, and the immediate past owner Sampat More from whom the actor had purchased the land.

While technically the ownership of the land will vest with Rani Mukherjee till June 9, she has been barred from undertaking any construction or other development activity on it till the case is finally decided.

The status quo order also suspends till June 9 the SDO's order asking her to pay a fine till April 15 failing which the deal would have stood cancelled.

Rani's father Ram Mukherji was present in the court when the order was passed.