India, Nov. 18 -- A Pune joint civil judge (senior division) has cancelled the Rs.230-crore land deal between the Seth Hirachand Nemchand Smarak Trust and Gokhale Landmarks LLP, declaring the sale agreement and power of attorney "void and inoperative since the beginning."

The order, delivered on November 14 and the copy of which was made available on Monday, comes amid the political storm triggered by allegations against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former mayor Murlidhar Mohol, who has denied any role in the deal.

The cancellation follows the Maharashtra charity commissioner's decision to withdraw the statutory sanction it had granted for the sale.

The disputed 12,018 sq m plot at Bhamburda, Shivajinagar, houses a hostel an...