HC Questions ₹50 Lakh Payout Over 'Red Sandalwood' Claim The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Friday raised questions about a ₹50 lakh compensation payout to a farmer’s family for a tree claimed to be red sandalwood, after evidence emerged the tree was not of the species. The case, linked to land acquisition for the Wardha-Yavatmal-Nanded railway project, involves Keshav Tukaram Shinde, whose family sought compensation for the tree and other properties. The court initially directed the railways to deposit ₹1 crore as interim compensation and allowed the withdrawal of ₹50 lakh, contingent on a scientific valuation of the tree. A subsequent assessment by the forest department revealed the tree belonged to the "Bijasal" species, which is significantly less valuable than red sandalwood. Following this, the Central Railway sought recovery of the withdrawn amount through counsel Neerja Chaubey. However, Shinde died during the interim period, prompting the court to implead his legal heirs—his wife, four sons, and four daughters—to respond by Monday regarding the repayment of the funds. During the hearing, the bench questioned the proportionality of the compensation, noting that for a tree valued at around ₹10,000, retaining ₹50 lakh would be unjustified if the original claim was invalid. The family’s counsel argued the amount should be settled after related land acquisition proceedings in Pusad, but the court emphasized that retaining such a large sum until then would be inappropriate. The court clarified that if the family could prove the tree was indeed red sandalwood, they would be entitled to the compensation along with interest. The matter is set for further hearing on April 27.#bombay_high_court #central_railway #keshav_tukaram_shinde #neerja_chaubey #wardha_yavatmal_nanded_railway_project
