Ajit Pawar Clarifies Land Deal Controversy, Vows to Cancel Rs 300 Crore Transaction

Mumbai: In a bid to control the damage, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar addressed the media on Friday, asserting that his son Parth was not aware that the land purchased by his firm in Pune belonged to the government. He also announced that the Rs 300 crore deal has been canceled, amid allegations from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that the transaction amounted to 'theft of land reserved for Dalits.'

Activist Anna Hazare also weighed in on the controversy, emphasizing that if a minister's children are involved in wrongdoing, the minister should be held accountable.

The Revenue and Forest Department issued an order to form a high-level panel headed by Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Vikas Kharge to investigate the 'unauthorized registration of documents' related to survey no 88 in Mouje Mundhwa in Pune city. The panel will determine whether the transaction caused any financial loss to the state exchequer.

Ajit Pawar, whose Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is part of the BJP-led ruling coalition in the state, met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the latter’s official residence and later addressed the media. “The land in question is government property and cannot be sold. Parth and his partner Digvijay Patil were unaware of this fact. The details of how the registration was processed and who is responsible will be revealed in the probe led by ACS Vikas Kharge, and he will submit his report within a month,” Pawar stated.

Pawar further clarified that there was no pressure exerted on authorities to transfer the land to Parth Pawar’s company, Amadea Enterprises LLP. “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 added.

The FIR, which named three individuals, including Digvijay Patil, did not include Parth Pawar because these three individuals were the ones who visited the registrar’s office to sign the documents. Pawar emphasized that the deal was merely an agreement to buy land and no payment was made by Parth, his company Amadea, or any family member to the seller. Consequently, the transaction was not completed.

“Since allegations of wrongdoing have been made, Parth has agreed to cancel the deal. The necessary documents for the cancellation of the sale deed have been submitted to the registering authority,” Pawar said.

The deal for the sale of 40 acres of government land in the upscale Mundhwa area to Amadea Enterprises came under scrutiny on Thursday due to the lack of required clearances. Opposition leaders alleged that the market value of the land was Rs 1,800 crore.

Pimpri Chinchwad police registered an FIR, based on a complaint filed by the Inspector General of the Registrar’s office, against Digvijay Patil, Shital Tejwani (who represented the 272 'owners' of the land through a power of attorney), and sub-registrar R B Taru for alleged misappropriation and cheating. On Friday, another FIR was registered in Pune against Patil, Tejwani, and suspended revenue official Suryakant Yewale.

Collector Jitendra Dudi stated, “During a preliminary inquiry, we found the suspended tehsildar’s role in illegally allowing the transfer of land though it was owned by the government.” The FIR also named six others involved in another controversial deal involving land in Bopodi near Pune.

On social media, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged that the land in Mundhwa, worth Rs 1,800 crore, was reserved for Dalits. “Not only is it a robbery, but a waiver on the legal stamp duty too. This is ‘land theft’ by that government, which itself was formed through ‘vote theft,” he said.

State officials confirmed that the land was once 'Mahar Vatan', granted to members of the Mahar community (a Scheduled Caste) for performing hereditary village duties. Veteran anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare demanded stern action, stating, “If children of ministers are involved in wrongdoing, it is the ministers who should be blamed. Values are crucial, and they come from families.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare accused the revenue and police departments of trying to protect Parth Pawar. “Despite the same document (No. 9018/225) being used 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 the authorities avoided naming him?” she questioned.

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule urged the Opposition to wait for a month until the high-level committee submitted its report. The FIR did not name Parth Pawar because he was not present at the sub-registrar’s office when the sale documents were signed, he explained.