Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has landed in soup again, this time over his son Parth's controversial and allegedly undervalued land deal in Pune. Calling the matter "serious", Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a high-level probe into the matter. The government has also suspended a revenue official over the Rs 300 crore land deal.
Reportedly, Amadea Enterprises LLP, a firm in which Ajit Pawar's son Parth Pawar is a partner, bought 40 acres of land in Pune's upmarket Mundhwa area recently. Allegedly, the 40-acre land parcel was a Mahar Vatan land, and it belonged to the government. Reportedly, officials also waived off the registration fee of Rs 21 crore on the deal. Targeting the Mahayuti government, the Opposition charged that the actual value of the land was over Rs 1,500 crore.
Terming the matter serious, Chief Minister Fadnavis said a high-level probe will be conducted over the issue. "I've sought all information concerning the case from the relevant departments. Orders have been given to conduct a probe. I can speak about it and the action to be taken after getting all the details," he said. Maharashtra Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Vikas Kharge will head the probe committee, formed on the instructions of Chief Minister Fadnavis.
The state government has suspended Pune Tehsildar Suryakant Yewale with immediate effect over the controversial deal. Inspector General of Registration Ravindra Binwade told PTI that the high-level committee will find out how the government land was sold to a private firm and ascertain whether the exemption was given as per the norms.
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Binwade said documents submitted by the buyers will be checked and the deal should not have taken place if it is government land. According to RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar, the land parcel was allegedly purchased for about Rs 300 crore by a company linked to Parth Pawar despite its market rate being considerably higher. He also claimed that the stamp duty of Rs 21 crore on this deal was waived.
Senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar demanded a judicial probe into the transaction and said the deal was done in violation of the law. Wadettiwar charged the file related to the deal moved at rocket speed through government departments. "Within hours, the Directorate of Industries not only approved the transfer of land to the company for an IT park and data centre but also waived stamp duty of Rs 21 crore," he charged. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve claimed that the land bought by the private company is worth Rs 1,800 crore.
