Pune Land Deal Case: EOW Files Chargesheet, Alleges Irregularities in Government Property Sale

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has filed a 1,886-page chargesheet in connection with the Pune land deal case. The chargesheet alleges that Shital Tejwani, who held power of attorney for a prime 40-acre plot in Mundhwa, executed its sale even though she knew the land belonged to the Maharashtra government, as reported by PTI.

The land was sold to Amadea Enterprises LLP, a firm co-owned by Parth Pawar, the son of the late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The sale was reportedly valued at Rs 300 crore. While First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered against the signatories and vendors involved in the land deal, Parth Pawar’s name was not included in the police case, according to officials.

The chargesheet was filed by the EOW against Shital Tejwani on January 28, Pune Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar stated on Monday. The investigation is still underway against Digvijay Patil, co-owner of Amadea Enterprises LLP, and suspended tehsildar Suryakant Yeole, the police chief added.

The police in its chargesheet stated that Tejwani sold the 40-acre government-owned land to Amadea Enterprises LLP, even though she was aware that the property belonged to the state and could not be sold. The deal has been criticized for alleged irregularities and lack of required clearances. Opposition leaders claim the land’s market value was around Rs 1,800 crore.

It is also alleged that the firm was exempted from paying Rs 21 crore in stamp duty, further raising concerns about the legitimacy of the transaction. Police said that Tejwani held the power of attorney for 272 original watandars of the land. She reportedly represented these owners and executed the sale deed despite knowing that the land was government property.

The FIR filed by the Inspector General of Registrar’s office names Digvijay Patil, Shital Tejwani (representing 272 landowners), and Sub-Registrar R B Taru. They are accused of misappropriation and cheating, according to police. A separate FIR lodged by the district administration at Khadak police station against Patil, Tejwani, and Yeole is being probed by the EOW.

Meanwhile, last month, the Maharashtra CID arrested Tejwani in connection with an old loan default and fraud case involving Seva Vikas Cooperative Bank in Pimpri-Chinchwad. Suryakant Yeole allegedly issued a notice to the Botanical Survey of India to vacate the land, claiming it had been sold to Amadea Enterprises LLP. Yeole has secured pre-arrest bail.