A report concerning a controversial land deal in Pune has indicted three individuals, but notably does not mention Parth Pawar, son of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The investigation centers around the sale of 40 acres of government land in the upscale Mundhwa area to Amadea Enterprises LLP, a company where Parth Pawar is a partner. The deal, valued at approximately ₹300 crore, raised concerns because the land belonged to the government and was allegedly sold improperly. Furthermore, the firm received an exemption from stamp duty of ₹21 crore, adding to the scrutiny.
The committee, headed by a Joint Inspector General of Registration (IGR), Rajendra Muthe, submitted its findings, which identified three individuals named in the related police FIR as being responsible. These individuals include a suspended government official (sub-registrar) Ravindra Taru, Digvijay Patil, Parth Pawar's cousin and business partner, and Sheetal Tejwani, who held power of attorney for the land sellers. The report has been forwarded to Divisional Commissioner Chandrakant Pulkundwar for further action.
According to an official, Parth Pawar was not mentioned in the report because his name did not appear on any of the examined documents related to the deal. "Since Parth Pawar's name does not come on record in the entire sale deed, he can not be indicted in the probe. The report, however, indicted all those who are directly involved in the deal including suspended government official (sub-registrar) Ravindra Taru," the official stated.
In light of the controversy, Ajit Pawar stated earlier this month that his son and his son's business partner were unaware that the land in question was government property and that the transaction has since been cancelled. He also mentioned that the required document for cancellation of the sale deed has already been submitted to the registering authority. Ajit Pawar has defended his son, claiming that the proposed deal was within the ambit of the law and completely above board. He added that his son agreed to cancel the deal to avoid any suspicion of wrongdoing.
The Muthe committee report has recommended measures to prevent similar fraudulent deals from occurring in the future. The IGR's office has given Amadea Enterprises LLP seven days to respond to the notice to pay ₹42 crore as stamp duty upon the cancellation of the Mundhwa land deal. The firm had requested 15 days but was granted only seven to reply to the notice.
