Ajit Pawar's Son Must Pay Rs 42 Crore to Cancel Controversial Pune Land Deal

Ajit Pawar (right) with his son Parth Pawar.

Following Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's announcement that the sale deed executed by his son Parth's firm for premium land in Pune has been cancelled, officials revealed that the company must pay double the stamp duty, amounting to Rs 42 crore, to finalize the cancellation.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified on Saturday that legal procedures are being followed in the Pune land deal case, emphasizing that no one will receive special treatment.

FIRs have been filed against signatories and vendors involved, and Fadnavis assured that anyone found guilty during investigation will face charges. When questioned about Parth's name not appearing in the FIR, Fadnavis explained, "Those making baseless allegations don't understand how FIRs work. Complaints are registered against express parties involved—in this case, the company and its authorized signatories."

NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar expressed support for investigating the controversial land deal connected to his grandnephew Parth's company.

Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal called for the state government to release a 'white paper' on land transactions in Pune and Mumbai and demanded a full-day discussion during the upcoming winter legislative session.

An official from the Department of Registration and Stamps has informed Digvijay Amarsinh Patil, Parth Pawar's cousin and partner in Amadea Enterprises LLP, that the firm must pay the original 7 percent stamp duty (5 percent under Maharashtra Stamp Act, plus 1 percent Local Body Tax and 1 percent Metro Cess) that was previously exempted when they claimed a data center would be built on the property.

Additionally, the company must pay another 7 percent stamp duty to execute the cancellation deed.

The firm had initially claimed stamp duty exemption by stating plans for a data center on the land. However, the cancellation deed indicates this plan has been abandoned.

On Thursday, the sale deed for the 40-acre 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.

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

Ajit Pawar claimed on Friday that Parth was unaware the land purchased by his firm belonged to the government, and confirmed the Rs 300 crore deal has now been cancelled.

Joint Sub Registrar, Class 2, A P Fulaware, ordered that "It is necessary to pay the stamp duty at the rate of 7 percent. Hence, the deficit stamp duty and penalty pertaining to the sale deed must be deposited with the Stamps Collector, Pune City, and the said document must be duly stamped." The official further stated that executing the cancellation deed requires an additional 7 percent stamp duty.

The letter clarified that the deed will only be cancelled after the stamp duty is paid.

Amadea Enterprises, co-owned by Parth Pawar and his cousin Digvijay Patil, had entered into an agreement with Shital Tejwani and executed the Rs 300 crore sale deed.

The transaction became controversial after revelations that the land belonged to 'Mumbai Sarkar,' and during execution, the firm allegedly had the 7 percent stamp duty waived through collusion with sub-registrar R B Taru. The stamp duty for the Rs 300 crore deal amounts to Rs 21 crore.

In an interview with PTI, Joint Inspector General of Stamps and Registration, Rajendra Muthe, explained that Amadea had requested stamp duty exemption citing plans for a data center.

"However, scrutiny revealed that exemption cannot be granted for such a proposal, requiring the firm to pay both the original 7 percent stamp duty and an additional 7 percent for the cancellation deed," he stated.

Speaking to reporters in Akola, Sharad Pawar said, "The chief minister has publicly stated the land deal matter is serious, so he should conduct an investigation and present the facts to the public." When asked if his nephew Ajit Pawar was being politically targeted by BJP-led Mahayuti alliance allies, the former Union minister responded, "I wouldn't know."

Sharad Pawar seemed to distance himself from his daughter and NCP MP Supriya Sule's remarks defending Parth. Sule had stated she didn't believe Parth would do anything wrong. "This could be her view," he commented.

He emphasized that administration, politics, and family are distinct matters.

"As a family, we Pawars are one, but we are divided ideologically. One of my grandnephews contested against Ajit Pawar, and Ajit Pawar's wife contested against my daughter," he concluded.