Pune Land Controversy: Three Ex-Revenue Ministers Rejected Transfer Requests
The 40-acre Mundhwa plot in Pune has been a subject of multiple transfer requests over the years. Three ex-revenue ministers, including Balasaheb Thorat, Eknath Khadse, and Chandrakant Patil, have rejected these bids, highlighting the complexity and controversy surrounding the land.
Pune LandRevenue MinistersLand TransferGovernment LandControversyReal Estate MumbaiNov 08, 2025
Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat, who served as revenue minister in 2013 and 2019-2020, said he received such proposals multiple times. “The people registered as holders of the ‘other rights’ in the property card had approached me. I rejected their claim in 2013 as it was government land and they had no interest vested in them as owners, as they claimed. They moved the Bombay High Court against my verdict. These people approached me again, in 2019, after the court directed me to take a call on the matter. I rejected the proposal again,” Thorat told HT.
The Mundhwa land parcel is historically significant as Mahar Watan land, which was agricultural land allocated by the colonial British government to the Mahar and Ramoshi communities in lieu of salaries for village administration services. The Mahar Watan system was abolished by the then Bombay state in 1958, and the land was transferred to government ownership.
The 272 individuals who approached Thorat are likely descendants of the original land owners. They also approached two subsequent revenue ministers, Eknath Khadse and Chandrakant Patil, with the same request to transfer the land in their names. However, both ministers did not take any action on these proposals.
“Both revenue ministers did not take a decision. Thus, there were numerous attempts to sell the land on behalf of these 272 people, but these attempts came to nought as the land was vested in the government,” said an official with the state revenue department.
An official from the land records department explained, “After the Mahar Watan system was abolished in the early 1950s, the land was transferred in the name of ‘Mumbai Sakar’ or the then ‘Bombay State’. This means it is vested in the name of the government.”
Meanwhile, revenue department officials have raised concerns about the recent controversial deal involving Amadea Enterprises LLP, in which Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's son Parth is a partner. “The tehsildar served a show cause notice to the Botanical Survey of India, saying the lease, which is in force till 2038, would be cancelled. The tehsildar has no right to cancel the lease,” an official said.
The sub-registrar has also been criticized for violating basic rules in allowing the registration of the deal. The 7% stamp duty was waived without Amadea Enterprises showing that the land would be used for an IT park. “The waiver was sought under the Information Technology policy of 2024, and a letter of intent was not sufficient to seek the exemption. The letter of intent was issued by the district director of the industries department. Moreover, if a waiver was in order, it should have been restricted to the stamp duty of 5% and not the cess of 2%. Also, a waiver under the IT policy is applicable only after the plan for the IT park was approved,” the official added.
The committee probing the deal will also investigate how a sub-registrar could waive ₹21 crore in stamp duty without such powers being vested in him. Both tehsildar Suryakant Yeole and sub-registrar Ravindra Taru were suspended on Thursday.
Opposition parties have continued their attack on the BJP-led Mahayuti government. Senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar demanded that Parth Pawar be booked in the land deal and that Ajit Pawar be sacked from the cabinet. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve has questioned why Ajit Pawar is being “shielded” when BJP leader Eknath Khadse was asked to resign in 2016 for a similar land deal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the historical significance of the Mundhwa land in Pune?
The Mundhwa land in Pune is historically significant as it was part of the Mahar Watan system, where the colonial British government allocated agricultural land to the Mahar and Ramoshi communities in lieu of salaries for village administration services. This system was abolished in 1958, and the land was transferred to government ownership.
Who are the 272 individuals who approached the revenue ministers for land transfer?
The 272 individuals who approached the revenue ministers for land transfer are likely descendants of the original land owners from the Mahar and Ramoshi communities who were given the land under the Mahar Watan system.
Why did the revenue ministers reject the land transfer requests?
The revenue ministers rejected the land transfer requests because the land was vested in the government and the individuals had no legal claim to it as owners. They were registered as holders of ‘other rights’ in the property card, but this did not confer ownership.
What is the recent controversy involving Amadea Enterprises LLP?
The recent controversy involves a company linked to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's son, Parth, attempting to buy the 40-acre Mundhwa plot. The tehsildar served a show cause notice to the Botanical Survey of India to cancel the lease, and the sub-registrar waived the 7% stamp duty without proper justification.
What actions have been taken against the officials involved in the recent land deal?
Both the tehsildar, Suryakant Yeole, and the sub-registrar, Ravindra Taru, were suspended following the controversy. A committee is also investigating the irregularities in the deal, including the waiver of ₹21 crore in stamp duty.
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