Shivpuri: A fresh dispute has erupted within the Shivpuri Municipal Council over the Gandhi Petrol Pump land after the Madhya Pradesh High Court ruled in favour of the civic body. Municipal Council president Gayatri Sharma has now accused Chief Municipal Officer (CMO) Yashwant Rathore of having links with petrol pump operator Sameer Gandhi.
The dispute concerns land near Jhansi Tiraha on Agra-Bombay Road. The Madhya Pradesh High Court, in its September 1, 2026, judgment in the Municipal Council, Shivpuri versus M/s Jai Bharat Automobiles case, ruled against the firm’s claim over the property. The court examined the 1960 lease, under which the land had been leased for 25 years at an annual rent of Rs 279.50.
Following the ruling, the municipal authorities began the process of recovering possession of the land. Local reports said notices were being prepared for occupants, with the civic body indicating that further action could follow if the property was not vacated within the stipulated period.
At a press conference on Sunday, Sharma criticised CMO Rathore and alleged that he was acting in coordination with Sameer Gandhi. She also raised questions about the role of the district administration in the matter. The allegations are political and administrative claims and have not been established as facts.
Rathore rejected the allegations, saying the eviction proceedings were being conducted strictly according to the applicable rules and procedure. The municipal administration has maintained that the court’s decision provides the basis for its action.
Sameer Gandhi, meanwhile, has argued that the matter is pending before the Supreme Court and that any immediate eviction would therefore be premature.
The High Court judgment found that the lease had not automatically been renewed and also dealt with evidence concerning the use of the property by other parties. The court held that the lower courts had erred in their assessment of the sub-letting issue.
The latest dispute has also revived questions over the working relationship between Shivpuri’s elected municipal leadership and its administrative officials. Local reports have noted previous disagreements between the municipal president and CMO, with several officials having been replaced during the past few years.
At the same time, Sharma has herself faced allegations from councillors belonging to both the BJP and Congress, with inquiries into those allegations reportedly continuing. The competing allegations add another layer to the ongoing dispute over the valuable municipal property.