Bhopal, Aug 2:
A simmering property dispute erupted into chaos in Danish Kunj Colony on Friday when over 40 individuals, allegedly accompanied by a bulldozer, arrived at the residence of IAS officer Manjusha Rai, Deputy Secretary in the Education Department, and began demolishing parts of her house.
Rai alleged that her boundary wall was razed, CCTV cameras were damaged, and despite alerting the police during the incident, no immediate action was taken.
Speaking to the media, Rai detailed the origins of the dispute, stating that House No. 595 was purchased by her husband, Vikrant Praveen Rai, in December 2010 through a Rs. 41 lakh agreement. Although the full payment was made, she claims the property was never formally registered in their name. The family has been residing in the house since 2011, and even built two additional rooms with verbal approval from the original seller.
The conflict escalated in March 2025, when the property was allegedly transferred by the Additional Tehsildar of Kolar to Ridit Arora (formerly Saeed Farid Ahmed). Arora subsequently sold the property to Mona Bateja on June 10, a development the Rai family said they were completely unaware of—until they received threats and witnessed the demolition on Friday.
Rai emphasized that the matter is currently under litigation in the SDM and Revenue Courts, with formal objections filed against the disputed transfer. Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, the opposing party allegedly took matters into their own hands and proceeded with a forceful takeover.
Expressing her frustration, Rai said, “No cooperation is being received from the police. If it’s a property issue, let the civil court decide. Why this hooliganism?” She has appealed to the authorities for urgent intervention and protection.
Senior administrative officials visited the location briefly but declined to comment on the situation. Meanwhile, Rai has submitted formal complaints to higher authorities, demanding justice and protection for her family.
