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Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday denied any involvement in the controversial Pune land deal linked to a company associated with his son Parth Pawar, asserting that he has “no connection” with the matter and will “not tolerate any wrongdoing.” The statement comes amid growing political tension over the alleged ₹300 crore land transaction involving Amadea Enterprises LLP, which is now under government investigation. Ajit Pawar breaks silence on controversy Addressing the media in Mumbai, Ajit Pawar said, “I am not even remotely connected to this (land deal). Whatever reports are being circulated are not known to me. I have no connection with the issue. I had already clarified that I will not tolerate any wrongdoing. I will analyse the details of the case personally.” He further added, “If anyone is doing wrong or acting against the set norms, I will never support them. I wish to make it clear to all officers that I won’t support any wrong actions by anyone using my name to get their work done.” The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader also responded to questions about his son’s involvement, stating, “When your children grow up, they do their own business.” Inquiry committee to probe land deal The Maharashtra government has constituted a high-level committee to investigate alleged irregularities in the land transaction. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis appointed Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Vikas Kharge to head the probe panel. Officials said the inquiry will focus on how a 40-acre parcel of government-owned “Mahar watan” land located in Pune’s Mundhwa area was sold to Amadea Enterprises LLP for ₹300 crore, despite its estimated market value being around ₹1,800 crore. According to preliminary findings, the land in question is government property and, under existing laws, cannot be sold to a private entity. Opposition parties have accused the administration of enabling a “sweetheart deal” to benefit politically connected individuals. Government suspends officials over alleged irregularities In a swift response, the state government has suspended a tehsildar and a sub-registrar in connection with the deal. Inspector General of Registration Ravindra Binwade confirmed that the committee will investigate the circumstances under which the sale was cleared. “The committee will find out how government land was sold to a private firm and whether exemptions were granted as per norms. The documents produced during registration will be examined. Since the land belongs to the government, such a registration should not have taken place,” Binwade said. The registration reportedly occurred without obtaining a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the competent authority — a mandatory requirement for transactions involving government property. Officials also pointed out that the stamp duty for the transaction was set at just ₹500, exploiting an exemption clause. However, a 2% levy (comprising 1% local body cess and 1% metro cess) amounting to ₹6 crore “cannot be waived,” the order noted, indicating a potential loss to the state exchequer. What is the Pune land deal controversy? The controversy revolves around the sale of 40 acres of government-owned Mahar watan land in Pune’s Mundhwa area to Amadea Enterprises LLP, a private firm linked to Parth Pawar and Digvijay Patil, who is listed as a co-partner. Sources in the revenue department confirmed that the 7/12 extract — an important land record — lists the property under ‘Mumbai Sarkar’ (Government of Maharashtra). Despite this, the land was transferred to the private firm without the necessary NOC or clearances. Opposition leaders have alleged that land valued at ₹1,800 crore was sold for just ₹300 crore, terming it a “scam in the garb of a legal transaction.” Fadnavis calls for transparent investigation Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, CM Devendra Fadnavis said the issue appeared “serious” and assured that all relevant details had been sought from the departments concerned. “The CM should definitely inquire into the matter and find the truth behind it. All rules should be followed, and no one should flout the rules,” Ajit Pawar himself remarked, supporting the probe. The deputy chief minister further emphasised that “even those close to me are not allowed to surpass the rules.” Political ripples and next steps The controversy has sparked a fresh political storm in Maharashtra, with Opposition parties demanding accountability and transparency from the ruling coalition. Critics argue that the case exposes the loopholes in the land registration system and calls for tighter oversight on government property transactions. The inquiry committee headed by Vikas Kharge is expected to submit its preliminary findings in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar has reiterated that neither he nor his office had any involvement in the matter, distancing himself from the allegations surrounding Amadea Enterprises. As the political heat rises, the outcome of the inquiry will be crucial in determining whether procedural lapses or deliberate wrongdoing led to the controversial sale.
