Karwar: A criminal case has been filed against seven persons, including the president and secretary of Hankon Gram Panchayat, for illegally lifting stones stored on a private land, said advocate K R Desai.

Addressing a press meet Mr Desai said, the case has been filed against GP Secretary Shobha Kumtekar, President Savitir Padvalkar, member K D Naik, local resident Vinaya Naik, Ramdas Naik of Haladipur in Honnavar taluk, Datta Naik of Sanna Mudgeri and goods carrier owner Ganapati Padvalkar.

Hankon resident Sangeeta Mahabaleshwar Naik had stored stones on her land with survey No. 279. GP secretary has served Ms Naik asking her to remove the stones by July 5, else the GP would remove the stones. The notice served to the petitioner was illegal, he said.

The tahsildar also violated law in this regard. The GP secretary and president has claimed that there was road on the said land. However, there are no records with the GP to prove the same, he added Janashakti Vedike Presdient Madhav Nayak was present.