What began as a dispute over a piece of land in Panvel has evolved into a years-long legal battle for Salman Khan and his neighbour, involving allegations of encroachment, blocked access, environmental concerns and defamation claims. The matter has once again drawn attention after the Bombay High Court weighed in on social media posts targeting actor Salman Khan. At the centre of the controversy is Ketan Kakkad, a retired NRI whose property sits next to Khan’s sprawling Panvel farmhouse. Here is a closer look at who he is and what the dispute is about.According to PTI, the Bombay High Court recently observed that access to social media does not give anyone the right to publish defamatory content, whether directed at a celebrity or an ordinary citizen. The matter came up before Justice Sharmila Deshmukh, who questioned why grievances should be aired through videos and social media posts instead of being pursued through the appropriate authorities. The court also suggested that Kakkad consider removing the content and scheduled the next hearing for July 6.Who is Ketan Kakkad?As reported by The Statesman, Ketan Kakkad is a retired non-resident Indian who previously lived in the United States. He owns part of a hilltop property in Panvel, located next to Salman Khan’s farmhouse. His connection to the area dates back to the mid-1990s when he sought to purchase land in Raigad district for a retirement home. During that period, the company selling the land reportedly introduced him to Salim Khan, Salman Khan’s father.Years later, Kakkad and his wife returned to the property with plans to build a small cottage. According to Kakkad, the relationship between the two sides deteriorated in 2019 when he was allegedly prevented from accessing the property.How did the legal dispute begin?The conflict centres on approximately 2.5 acres of hilltop land that the Kakkad family claims to own above Salman Khan’s Panvel farmhouse, popularly known as Arpita Farms. The Statesman reported that Kakkad has claimed that access to and from his property was blocked after a gate was constructed. He also alleged that roads leading to the property were obstructed, and electricity connections were disrupted. His legal team has argued that a large iron gate associated with Salman Khan’s farmhouse stands on land belonging to Kakkad, preventing him from fully using his property.Salman Khan's responseSalman Khan has denied the allegations. According to court proceedings, Khan’s legal team argued that Kakkad had attempted to acquire land adjacent to the farmhouse, but the transaction was cancelled by authorities because it was allegedly illegal. The actor’s side contended that after the cancellation, Kakkad began accusing Khan of influencing the decision. The dispute later expanded beyond property issues and into a defamation battle.Why did Salman Khan file a defamation case?Kakkad had uploaded videos and other content on social media concerning activities at Salman Khan’s farmhouse. He alleged environmental violations and other irregularities connected to the property. Khan subsequently filed a defamation suit, arguing that the material published online was defamatory and damaging to his reputation. The actor sought directions from the court to have the videos removed and to restrain Kakkad from publishing similar content in the future.After a civil court declined to grant the relief sought, Khan approached the Bombay High Court. During the latest hearing, the High Court expressed concern about the use of social media to make allegations against individuals and indicated that disputes should be addressed through proper legal and administrative channels. The case remains ongoing, with both the property dispute and the defamation proceedings continuing to be contested before the courts