World Record Holder, Award-Winning Influencer and Entrepreneur Tariq Mushtaq Khatri Awaits ₹150+ Crore Government Payment After 25-Year Dispute

Mumbai: A long-standing payment dispute between a government contractor and the Maharashtra irrigation department has drawn national attention after entrepreneur and humanitarian Tariq Mushtaq Khatri alleged that more than ₹150 crore in certified dues for a dam project built over two decades ago remain unpaid.

Khatri, a Mumbai-based entrepreneur, novelist and social activist, claims he constructed the Pali Bhutali Minor Irrigation Tank in Karjat, Raigad district under the Maharashtra government’s irrigation program through his firm Master Construction. According to documents cited by him, the project has been operational for more than 20 years and continues to provide irrigation water to thousands of farmers and residents in the region.

According to Khatri, the outstanding payments include costs related to excavation, long-term maintenance, additional construction work, machinery idling and escalation accumulated over the years. The total estimated claim, calculated under the current Schedule of Rates (SoR) 2025–26, is said to exceed ₹150 crore. He maintains that several components of the project work were certified by engineering authorities and documented in departmental records, yet payments have allegedly remained pending for nearly 25 years.

The dispute centers on discrepancies in measurement records and payment approvals related to the irrigation tank project. Khatri claims that certain entries in project measurement records do not reflect the quantities and certifications issued by senior engineering authorities during the execution of the project. According to him, these inconsistencies have contributed to delays in processing and clearing the outstanding payments.

Over the past year, Khatri has filed multiple complaints with oversight and government institutions. These include complaints submitted to the National Human Rights Commission, a case accepted by the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission, and a grievance registered on the Prime Minister’s Office public grievance portal. In addition, the Ministry of Jal Shakti reportedly issued a directive in October 2025 asking the Maharashtra government to investigate the matter and submit a compliance report. Khatri claims that the directive has not yet resulted in any payment or final resolution.

The prolonged dispute has also reportedly taken a personal toll. According to records cited in his complaints, Khatri attempted suicide in June 2025 after years of financial stress linked to the unresolved payments. The matter has been referenced in submissions to human rights authorities as an example of alleged administrative neglect and economic hardship.

Apart from his work in construction, Khatri has also gained recognition in digital media and literature. He is known for holding a Meta social-media engagement record and has authored several novels addressing themes such as women’s rights, human trafficking and social justice. He has received recognitions including the Nelson Mandela International Excellence Award and the Dadasaheb Phalke Icon Award, and his social media platforms reportedly reach more than a million followers worldwide.

Khatri has requested interim financial relief of ₹10 crore while seeking the formation of a joint measurement committee to reassess project records and a forensic audit of measurement books by government authorities. He is also demanding a full settlement of his dues at current rates and accountability for officials involved in the dispute.

In a statement, Khatri said he has full faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and believes the matter will eventually be resolved through due process. He added that his fight is not against the government but for what he describes as the principle that contractors who build public infrastructure should receive the payments legally due to them.

The case highlights broader concerns around delayed payments and dispute resolution in infrastructure projects, an issue that contractors across the country have often raised. As complaints continue to be examined by authorities and human rights bodies, Khatri says he hopes the matter will finally be resolved after more than two decades.