Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged illegal purchases of agricultural land in Sindhudurg district, particularly in the Dodamarg and Sawantwadi regions.

Speaking to the media, Bawankule said complaints were received from local legislators during his recent tour of Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts regarding large-scale purchases of agricultural land by non-resident builders in alleged violation of existing laws.

According to the minister, the land purchases appear to have been made for the purpose of land banking, with some buyers allegedly carrying out plotting activities without obtaining the required change of land use or zoning permissions.

Bawankule said the transactions are being examined for possible violations of the Maharashtra Tenancy Act, the Registration Act and applicable land zoning regulations.

He informed that the SIT has been tasked with investigating all such land transactions carried out over the past five years.

The minister reiterated that, under the existing legal framework, only individuals who qualify as farmers are permitted to purchase agricultural land, irrespective of which state they belong to.

Warning of stringent action, Bawankule said the government would not hesitate to act against anyone found to have violated the law during the course of the investigation.

"We will take strict action if any violations are found in these land transactions," he said.