Pune Police: No Evidence of Parth's Involvement in 40-Acre Land Deal

PUNE: Pune Police’s economic offences wing (EOW) has filed an 1,886-page chargesheet relating to the 40-acre Mundhwa land deal, stating that arrested power of attorney (PoA)-holder Sheetal Kisanchand Tejwani (44) executed the sale deed with Amadea Enterprises LLP despite knowing the plot was owned by the state government.

Late Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s son Parth is a partner in the firm. When asked about Parth, Pune Commissioner of Police (CP) Amitesh Kumar said on Monday: “Our investigation so far has not revealed any involvement.” Although Parth has not been named in the FIR, Digvijay Amarsinh Patil, another partner of Amadea Enterprises LLP, and arrested tehsildar Suryakant Yewale are mentioned. Tejwani and Patil were signatories to the deal last year.

Yewale is accused of passing an order asking the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), which holds the lease of the land until 2038, to vacate the plot following a plea by Amadea for such a directive. “We filed the chargesheet on January 28 with a city court only against Tejwani considering the 60-day window was getting over. We are continuing with investigations against Patil and Yewale and will take a call on filing a supplementary chargesheet later,” CP Kumar said. The police have recorded Patil’s statement. Allegations of irregularities swirled over the deal as it was executed by Tejwani — PoA-holder for the 272 Watandars (original land holders) — and Amadea’s Patil for Rs 300 crore.

Opposition leaders have claimed that the market value of the land in Pune’s upscale Mundhwa area was Rs 1,800 crore. This discrepancy in the valuation has raised questions about the transparency and legality of the deal. The EOW’s chargesheet is a significant step in the ongoing investigation, which aims to uncover any potential wrongdoing and ensure that all parties involved are held accountable for their actions.

The case has garnered significant attention due to the involvement of high-profile individuals and the potential impact on the real estate market in Pune. The EOW’s thorough investigation and the filing of the chargesheet are crucial for maintaining public trust in the legal and administrative systems. As the investigation continues, the focus remains on ensuring that justice is served and that any irregularities are addressed transparently and effectively.