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A Rs 300-crore land deal in Pune involving a firm linked to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s son, Parth Pawar, has triggered a political storm after allegations of irregularities surfaced. The state government has ordered a high-level probe and suspended a sub-registrar for his alleged role in the transaction. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday described the case as "prima facie serious" and said he had sought information from the concerned departments. Ajit Pawar, meanwhile, distanced himself from the controversy, saying he had "nothing to do" with the deal. Land deal under scrutiny According to officials, 40 acres of Mahar Vatan land, classified as government property, in Pune’s upmarket Mundhwa area were sold to Amadea Enterprises LLP, a firm in which Parth Pawar is a partner, for Rs 300 crore. The sale allegedly happened without proper authorisation, and stamp duty worth Rs 21 crore was reportedly waived. The office of the Inspector General of Registration (IGR) suspended R.B. Taru, sub-registrar at the Haveli No. 4 office in Pune, for registering documents without verifying mandatory approvals. The IGR order stated that the transaction caused a loss to the state exchequer and violated registration norms. Inspector General Ravindra Binwade said a probe panel, headed by Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Vikas Kharge, will examine how the land was transferred and whether the exemptions were valid. Sources in the revenue department said the land’s “7/12 extract” lists it as belonging to "Mumbai Sarkar", reports PTI. Another co-partner in the firm, Digvijay Patil, was also named in the registration papers. Officials, others under scanner A tehsildar-rank officer, Suryakant Yewale, who was previously suspended in another land case, is also under investigation for allegedly allowing the transfer of Mahar Vatan land to private parties. Officials said 272 individuals sold the Mundhwa land to Amadea Enterprises through a power of attorney granted to Pune resident Shital Tejwani. The IGR order noted that though exemptions were applied for, certain levies — including a 2% local and metro cess worth Rs 6 crore, could not be waived, resulting in a financial loss to the government. Political reactions Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Fadnavis said, “The issue looks serious. I’ve asked officials to provide all details, and a probe has been ordered.” Ajit Pawar dismissed any personal involvement. “I am not even remotely connected to this land deal. The chief minister should definitely investigate it — that is his right,” he said. Pawar added that he had earlier warned against any wrongdoing, saying, “Three-four months ago, I had issued clear instructions that nobody should misuse my name or do wrong things.” He added that he had never contacted any officer to secure benefits for relatives, adding, “When your children grow up, they do their own business.” Opposition demands judicial probe The Opposition demanded a judicial inquiry, with Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar alleging the deal violated laws and moved through departments at “rocket speed.” He claimed the Directorate of Industries quickly approved land transfer and waived stamp duty. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said he did not expect the probe to yield results, alleging the government would “eventually give a clean chit.” BJP minister Nitesh Rane said the government maintains a “zero tolerance for corruption,” while Industries Minister Uday Samant defended Parth Pawar, saying his documents “appear to be in order” and that the ownership status of the land must be verified. The probe panel, headed by ACS Vikas Kharge, has been directed to submit its findings soon. For the Latest news, India News, Bihar Election 2025 updates and breaking stories from around the world, visit Times Now for live coverage and in-depth reporting.
