Media365
Former India cricketer and Trinamool Congress MP Yusuf Pathan is facing legal trouble over a residential plot in Vadodara. The Gujarat High Court has declared Pathan an encroacher after rejecting his petition challenging a notice from the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC). Following the judgment, civic authorities have been directed to remove the encroachment. The ruling was delivered by a single bench of Justice Mauna Bhatt. The controversy dates back to 2012 when Pathan, a member of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning squad, sought to buy an open residential plot next to his Tandalja bungalow, citing security concerns for himself and his family due to his status as an international cricketer. The VMC evaluated the request but rejected it in 2014. Despite this, Pathan continued to occupy the property. The issue resurfaced in 2024 after Pathan was elected from the Baharampur constituency in West Bengal. The VMC issued a notice instructing him to vacate the government-owned plot, which he then challenged in court. Justice Bhatt emphasised that Pathan’s celebrity status does not exempt him from following the law. She stated that offering leniency to public figures who flout the law sends the wrong message to society. “As a national representative and public figure, Pathan has a greater responsibility to comply with the law,” Justice Bhatt said. “Celebrities, because of their visibility and influence, shape public behaviour and societal values. Allowing them concessions despite violating regulations undermines public trust in the judicial system and sets a dangerous precedent.” The court’s decision makes it clear that Pathan must vacate the plot, reinforcing the principle that no individual, regardless of fame, is above the law.
