Mumbai: Once considered a top pick for the who’s who of the powers that be in Maharshtra due to the sprawling area, posh location and serene surroundings, the magnificent sea-facing Ramtek bungalow at Malabar Hill today has the dubious distinction of being considered a jinx.
Such understanding comes on the back of a unique, somewhat defamed history. The 8,857 sq mt property is considered to be jinxed as many of its former occupants have either passed away or have seen their fortunes dwindling after their names came up in controversies.
Dramatic change in fortunes during their stay in Ramtek is the reason why ministers are now believed to be reluctant to live in it and Khadse’s recent political troubles have added credence to the notion that Ramtek is inauspicious.
Apart from Khadse, former Maharashtra PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal (NCP), Gopinath Munde (BJP) and Vilasrao Deshmukh (Congress) also suffered during the time they stayed in the bungalow and afterwards.
Vilasrao Deshmukh, former chief minister of Maharashtra, lost the assembly elections in 1995 when he was the official occupant of the bungalow. In 2008, he also faced heat over Mumbai attacks leading to his resignation.
Deshmukh’s name then was figured in the Adarsh scam, which also involved name of several top politicians, high-profile bureaucrats and some military personnel.
Deshmukh was later accused of allotting 21 acres of prime land in Goregaon to film producer Subhash Ghai. He later passed away on 14 August 2012 due to multiple organ failure.
A mass leader, Gopinath Munde, deputy chief minister of Maharashtra from 1995-99, passed away soon after taking oath as a minister in the newly formed Cabinet of Narendra Modi in 2014. He died in a road accident in New Delhi a week after taking the oath.
Chhagan Bhujbal, former Minister of Public Works & Special Assistance Department of Maharashtra, was linked to the infamous Telgi scam in 2003 when he was the official occupant of Ramtek. Bhujbal is currently in Arthur Road jail over his alleged role in the PWD scam.
Khadse moved into the property last year and since then, he has been facing a series of allegations, including his link to the MIDC land scam. He was also accused of being in touch with the fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim. He resigned from his post a few days back.
If there is one silver lining, it is NCP chief Sharad Pawar. A former resident of Ramtek, Pawar has faced many ups and downs in his political career which range from political controversies to alleged connections with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. However, Pawar has managed to come out unscathed each time and make a strong comeback as a leader you just cannot write off.
