Charity Commissioner Revokes Sale Deed of Jain Trust Property in Pune

Pune: The Maharashtra charity commissioner has taken a significant step by ordering the cancellation of the sale of a prime property in Pune belonging to a Jain trust to a builder. This decision comes amid protests from the community over the past few days. The commissioner has also directed the trust to return ₹230 crore to the developer.

The property, located in Model Colony, spans 3.5 acres and currently houses a boarding facility and a Jain temple. The development came after both Gokhale Landmarks LLP, a construction firm, and the Seth Hirachand Nemchand Digambar Smarak Trust expressed their desire to cancel the sales deed related to this property.

The charity commissioner revoked its April 2025 order, which had initially allowed the Seth Hirachand Nemchand Digambar Smarak Trust to enter into an agreement with Gokhale Landmarks LLP. The order stated, “Gokhale Landmarks LLP and the trustees of SHNST shall take appropriate steps and measures for the cancellation of the sale deed and the power of attorney dated October 10, 2025. These measures shall be taken at the earliest. Upon cancellation of the sale deed, the trustees should refund the entire amount of the sale consideration to Gokhale Landmarks.”

The property was acquired by Pune-based Gokhale Landmarks LLP earlier this year for ₹311 crore from the Seth Hirachand Nemchand Memorial Trust. A sum of ₹230 crore was paid, while the remaining amount was earmarked for the redevelopment of the hostel. Last week, the charity commissioner had ordered a status quo on the transaction. Members of the Jain community had held protests in Pune and other cities in Maharashtra, accusing the trustees of favoring the developer and violating norms governing charitable land while proceeding with the deal.

Vishal Gokhale, chairman and managing director of Gokhale Constructions, commented, “Respecting the sentiments of the Jain community, I decided to withdraw from the project. The trustees of Seth Hirachand Nemchand Digambar Jain Boarding Trust also responded positively to the decision. After today’s order of the charity commissioner, the further legal process to cancel the sale deed will be initiated soon.”

This decision by the charity commissioner is a significant victory for the Jain community, who had been vocal about their concerns over the sale of the property. The community's protests and the subsequent actions taken by the commissioner highlight the importance of transparency and adherence to regulations in transactions involving charitable properties.