In a dramatic turn of events, acclaimed actress Sonali Bendre and her filmmaker husband Goldie Behl are embroiled in a civil lawsuit filed by a farmer from Pune, alleging land encroachment and intimidation reminiscent of mafia tactics. The lawsuit, initiated by Chandrakant Balu Shinde and his elderly mother Kamalbai, claims that the couple leveraged their celebrity status to unlawfully seize 30 guntha of land in Uksan village, Maval taluka, with the assistance of local law enforcement. While the couple vehemently denies these allegations, branding them as false and an attempt at extortion, the legal battle is set to unfold in a Vadgaon Maval court later this month.
According to the details of the suit, which was lodged last month by advocate Vanraj Shinde, the Shinde family asserts their rights as protected tenants of the disputed land since the 1940s. They contend that their names were unjustly removed from revenue records in the 1980s, sparking a series of contentious transactions that culminated in the alleged sale of the property to Behl in March 2021. The plaintiffs assert that such sales were not legally valid, arguing that their tenancy rights were never formally terminated, thus complicating the ownership narrative of the contested land.
The allegations extend beyond mere property disputes, as the Shindes accuse Bendre and Behl of resorting to intimidation tactics during the purported encroachment. The lawsuit describes an incident on December 14, 2025, when the couple allegedly arrived at the site with construction crews and heavy machinery, prompting Kamalbai to intervene. The Shindes claim that when she attempted to protect their land, she was threatened, and police present at the scene purportedly warned them against further complaints, suggesting they could be falsely implicated in theft charges. This aspect of the case raises critical questions about police impartiality and the influence of celebrity status in legal matters.
In response to these allegations, Sonali Bendre has publicly stated that she is not listed on any purchase documents pertaining to the land in question. Her legal representative, Raju Shinde, has termed the case as a blatant attempt at extortion, insisting that the accusations lack any substantiation. As both parties prepare to enter the courtroom, the unfolding drama serves as a stark reminder of the complex intersections between fame, power, and legal rights in contemporary India.
