Belagavi: The Dharwad Bench of the High Court on Tuesday refused to grant a stay on the Belagavi Urban Development Authority’s (Buda) cancellation of the land-use change granted to the Jai Kisan Private Wholesale Vegetable Market, dealing a major blow to its board of directors and traders.Last week, Buda annulled the land-use change for the 10-acre 20-gunta market located on the outskirts of the city, citing multiple violations. Since then, the market management, along with traders and farmers, staged protests before various authorities. On Monday, they demonstrated in front of the Buda office, demanding the withdrawal of the cancellation order.Farmer leader Sidagouda Modagi, president of Bharatiya Krishik Samaj (United), who opposed the private market for over five years, argued the case through his lawyers Nitin Bolabandi and Anant Mandagi. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court denied interim relief and posted the next hearing for Sept 12.Meanwhile, allegations and counter-allegations continue between the market’s directors and whistleblowers Rajiv Topannavar, Sujit Mulgund, and Sidagouda Modagi. On Wednesday, Topannavar demanded an unconditional apology within three days from the directors for allegedly blaming them for the recent death of small trader Ismail Mujawar, who passed away after Buda’s cancellation order.In a press statement, Topannavar clarified that Mujawar, a small vegetable trader, was suffering from health issues and was under stress due to alleged harassment by the private vegetable market association over balance payments, despite having paid an advance for a shop.Topannavar further alleged that more than 200 traders, who made payments for shops, are now facing legal uncertainty as the association has only issued provisional allotment letters without executing registered sale deeds—leaving their ownership status in question.
