The property had recently sparked a controversy after it was revealed that a palatial mansion was being built for the President on 2,42,000 sq ft of defence land in the Kirkee Cantonment area in Pune at high cost to the exchequer.
The issue had come to light after former defence personnel and activists had filed an RTI query regarding the construction. The complainants wanted the President to surrender the land back to the defence authorities.
Earlier, the President's office had defended the allotment of this land for President Patil's post-retirement home by saying that only renovation work was being carried out on the site.http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/president-pratibha-patil-forgoes-controversial-post-retirement-home/1/186338.html#comment
