A group of ex-servicemen are agitating against the allotment of defense land to President Pratibha Patil in August 2011.

The ex-servicemen are alleging that for building a comfortable retirement home for the president after her term would require spending Rs 8 crore of public money, destroying two defense bungalows and allocating 261,000 square feet of cantonment land.

The group has launched an agitation on the basis of information obtained through an RTI request. The story was reported in the media and has created enough attention online on social networking site. The story has gathered so much attention that the President's office was forced to respond by describing the allegations as malicious.

Col. Suresh Patil, who has now retired from service, had founded Justice for Jawans. He obtained the bungalow information through the RTI request. As per the law, the president can get a 2,000 sq feet bungalow in any part of the country if she wants the government to rest a house for her after her term as the country's president is over.

Alternatively, she is entitled to a government-owned Class V bungalow if that is available. She is also entitled to receive free electricity and water for life.