Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Claims Son Unaware of Controversial Government Land Purchase Worth Rs 1,800 Crore

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar asserted on Friday that his son Parth was unaware the land purchased by his firm in Pune was government property, announcing that the Rs 300 crore deal has now been cancelled. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi described the transaction as "theft of land reserved for Dalits".

Activist Anna Hazare commented on the controversy, stating that if a minister's children engage in wrongdoing, the minister should bear responsibility.

The Revenue and Forest Department has established a high-level committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary (revenue) Vikas Kharge to investigate the "unauthorised registration of documents" related to survey no 88 in Mouje Mundhwa, Pune city, and determine if the transaction caused financial loss to the state exchequer.

Ajit Pawar, whose Nationalist Congress Party is part of Maharashtra's BJP-led ruling coalition, met with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at his official residence in Mumbai before addressing the media.

"The concerned land is government property, which cannot be sold. Parth and his partner Digvijay Patil were unaware of this fact. The probe headed by ACS Vikas Kharge will reveal how the registration was processed and who is responsible. He will submit his report within a month," Pawar explained.

The deputy CM emphasized that authorities had not been pressured to transfer the land to Parth Pawar's company, Amadea Enterprises LLP.

According to Ajit Pawar, the FIR named three individuals (including Digvijay Patil) but not his son because only these three visited the registrar's office to sign the documents. "Neither I nor my office made any phone calls, provided any assistance, or had any role or knowledge about this transaction at any stage," he stated.

"This was only an agreement to purchase land, and no payment was made by Parth, his company Amadea, or any member of my family to the seller, and possession of the land has not been taken. Therefore, the transaction remains incomplete," he clarified.

"My son Parth maintains that the proposed deal was within legal boundaries and completely transparent. However, in public life, we must not allow even suspicions of wrongdoing. Since allegations have emerged, he has agreed to cancel the deal. The documentation for cancellation of the sale deed has already been submitted to the registering authority," Pawar said.

On Thursday, the deal involving 40 acres of government land in upscale Mundhwa area to Amadea Enterprises came under scrutiny for lacking required clearances. Opposition leaders alleged its market value was Rs 1,800 crore.

Pimpri Chinchwad police registered an FIR—based on a complaint from the Inspector General of Registrar's office—against Digvijay Patil, Shital Tejwani (who represented the 272 'owners' of the land through power of attorney), and sub-registrar RB Taru for alleged misappropriation and cheating.

On Friday, authorities filed another FIR in Pune against Patil, Tejwani, and suspended revenue official Suryakant Yewale.

"Our preliminary inquiry revealed the suspended tehsildar's role in illegally allowing the land transfer, though it was government-owned," stated collector Jitendra Dudi. The FIR also named six others involved in another controversial land deal in Bopodi near Pune.

In a post on X, Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Mundhwa land, valued at Rs 1,800 crore, was reserved for Dalits.

"The stamp duty was also waived on the land deal - meaning not only is it robbery, but a waiver on legal stamp duty too. This is 'land theft' by that government, which itself was formed through 'vote theft,'" he said.

According to state officials, the land was 'Mahar Vatan,' previously granted to members of the Mahar community (a Scheduled Caste) for performing hereditary village duties.

Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare demanded stern action: "If children of ministers are involved in wrongdoing, ministers should be held accountable. Values that come from families are paramount. All such incidents occur because of lacking values."

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare accused revenue and police departments of protecting Parth Pawar.

"Despite using the same document (No. 9018/225) in the registration process, and the inquiry report specifically mentioning Parth Pawar's signature on the District Industries Board's resolution granting stamp duty exemption, why have authorities avoided naming him?" she questioned.

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule urged the Opposition to await the high-level committee's report, expected in a month.

He explained that the FIR excluded Parth Pawar because he wasn't present at the sub-registrar's office during the signing of sale documents.