Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s son Parth is embroiled in a land deal; learn about the matter.

Pune. A firm linked to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s son, Parth, has been accused of irregularities in a ₹300 crore Pune land deal, sparking a political controversy on Thursday. The government has ordered a high-level investigation into the matter. An FIR has been filed against three individuals. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, calling the matter “prima facie serious,” has sought information from the relevant departments, while Ajit Pawar has completely distanced himself from the deal.

Taking action in this matter, the government has suspended a sub-registrar and formed a high-level committee to investigate the alleged irregularities in the land deal. Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Vikas Kharge will lead the investigation panel. The Haveli No. Sub-Registrar R.B. Taru, attached to Office 4, has been suspended for irregularities in document registration and causing loss to the treasury. The order states that this action is based on a report submitted by the Joint District Registrar and Collector (Stamps).

40 Acres of Land Sold for Rs. 300 Crore
According to official sources, 40 acres of ‘Mahar Watan’ government land in the posh Mundhwa area of ​​Pune was sold to a private company called Amadia Enterprises LLP for Rs. 300 crore, with stamp duty waived. The company’s partners are Digvijay Amar Singh Patil and Parth Pawar.

The official stated that the land was sold through a person named Sheetal Tejwani. A total of 272 names were registered on the property, and Tejwani held power of attorney for the property. Being government land, the plot cannot be sold to a private company.

District Registrar Files Complaint
In this case, Joint District Registrar Santosh Hingane filed a complaint at the Bavdhan police station against Digvijay Patil, Sheetal Tejwani, and Ravindra Taru for allegedly causing a loss of ₹6 crore to the government. Based on the complaint, the police have registered an FIR against the accused under sections 316 (5) (breach of trust by a public servant) and 318 (2) (cheating) of the IPC.

The complaint states that the accused allegedly knowingly prepared a sale deed for the land, despite knowing that the land belonged to the government. The complaint further states that Hingane’s office issued a written notice on May 9th, stating that a stamp duty of ₹5.89 crore was payable and that permission from the competent authority was required. However, the deed was prepared without paying the stamp duty.

Inspector General of Registration Ravindra Binwade said the committee would investigate how the government land was sold to a private company and whether the exemptions were granted as per the rules. He said, “If this is government land, the registration (sale) should not have taken place.” Revenue Department sources claimed that the 7/12 extract (a key ownership document) shows the land in the name of the “Mumbai Government,” but the property cards contained the names of 272 people.

Amadia Enterprises LLP is registered at the address of the Pawar family’s bungalow in Yashwant Ghadge Nagar, Pune. The IGR order stated that the sub-registrar should have registered the documents only after obtaining an NOC from the competent authority, but this was done without an NOC. The document was registered at a stamp duty fee of just ₹500, and the exemption was availed. However, exemptions may be available. But the 2 percent additional fee—1 percent local body cess and 1 percent metro cess—totaling ₹6 crore cannot be waived, resulting in a loss to the state.

‘Tehsildar Suspended’
A senior official at the district collectorate said that tehsildar-level officer Suryakant Yewale was suspended on Thursday in another case. He is also under investigation in connection with a current land deal.

He said the district administration has initiated an investigation against Yewale for transferring ‘Mahar Vatan’ land to private individuals, after which it was sold to Amadia LLP. The agreement involved the land being sold through the power of attorney of Sheetal Tejwani, a 272-year-old individual. Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Chief Minister Fadnavis said, “Prima facie, the matter appears serious. I have sought information from the concerned departments. An investigation has been ordered.”
“I have nothing to do with the entire matter.”
Ajit Pawar distanced himself from the matter, saying, “I have nothing to do with this entire matter. I am away from it. The Chief Minister should conduct an investigation; that is his right.”

The Deputy Chief Minister claimed, “Three or four months ago, I heard that such things were going on. I clearly stated then that I would not tolerate any such wrongdoing. I issued clear instructions that no one should indulge in such wrongdoing. I don’t know what happened after that. Children grow up and start their own businesses. I never gave instructions to officials to benefit relatives.” When asked about the company’s registered address in Pune, Pawar said that the bungalow is owned by Parth Ajit Pawar.

“No one will be spared”
State BJP minister Nitesh Rane said, “Zero tolerance towards corruption is CM Fadnavis’s style. No one will be spared.” Industry Minister Uday Samant defended Parth Pawar, saying his documents are in order and that he will respond to all allegations. His department has nothing to do with incentives and exemptions. Whether the land is government land or not will be investigated.

Opposition attacks BJP
Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar demanded a judicial inquiry and alleged that the file related to the deal moved at a very fast pace. Within hours, the Directorate of Industries approved the land transfer for the IT park and data center and waived ₹21 crore in stamp duty.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray said in Latur that the investigation will reveal nothing concrete and that the government will ultimately give a clean chit to those involved.