Maharashtra Committee Indicts Three in Rs 300-Crore Land Deal Linked to Ajit Pawar's Son

Ajit Pawar (right) with his son Parth Pawar.

Pune:

A committee headed by Joint Inspector General of Registration (IGR) has submitted its report on the controversial Rs 300-crore land deal involving a Pune firm co-owned by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's son Parth. The report has implicated the three individuals named in the related police FIR, according to an official.

The three-member panel's report, submitted on Tuesday, did not mention Parth Pawar as his name did not appear on any document, the senior official informed PTI.

Joint IGR Rajendra Muthe, who led the committee, submitted the report to IGR Ravindra Binwade, who then forwarded it to Pune Divisional Commissioner Chandrakant Pulkundwar.

The sale of 40 acres of land in Pune's upscale Mundhwa area to Amadea Enterprises LLP, where Parth Pawar is a partner, came under investigation after it was discovered that the plot belongs to the government and was ineligible for sale. Additionally, the firm had received an exemption from paying Rs 21 crore in stamp duty.

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"Since Parth Pawar's name does not appear in any records of the entire sale deed, he cannot be implicated in the investigation. However, the report has indicted all those directly involved in the transaction, including suspended government official (sub-registrar) Ravindra Taru," stated the official.

The report also named Digvijay Patil (Parth Pawar's business partner and cousin) and Sheetal Tejwani (who held power of attorney for the land sellers). These three individuals—Taru, Patil, and Tejwani—are the accused named in the First Information Report registered by police.

The inquiry committees from the revenue department and settlement commissioner will also submit their respective reports. All three reports will then be forwarded to additional chief secretary (revenue) Vikas Kharge, who heads a six-member panel established by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to investigate the now-scrapped land deal, the official explained.

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The Muthe committee report also proposed measures to prevent similar fraudulent transactions in the future.

According to the report, cases where stamp duty waivers are requested must be vetted and approved by the collector (stamp).

Citing Section 18-K of the Registration Act, 1908, the report emphasized that documentation can only be completed when a 7/12 extract (a crucial land record document) not older than one month is presented, along with all documents establishing ownership of the property in question.

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"As per the notification issued on April 20, 2025, an amendment has been made to the Registration Act, 1908. It has been made mandatory for all sub-registrars to not execute registration of documents related to the sale or purchase of government-owned properties," the report highlighted.

However, the Muthe committee noted this provision currently applies only to cases with established government ownership.

The report recommended extending the same restriction to cases where government ownership, possession, or interest are not clearly established.

Meanwhile, the IGR's office has given Amadea Enterprises seven days to respond to the notice seeking payment of Rs 42 crore as stamp duty upon the cancellation of the Mundhwa land deal.

"The firm requested 15 days, but we have given them seven days to reply to the notice," said an official from the IGR office.