PUNE: A major political row erupted in Maharashtra on Thursday over alleged transfer of a 40-acre ‘Mahar Watan’ land belonging to the state in Pune’s Mundhwa area for Rs 300 crore in favour of Amadea Enterprises LLP, a company in which deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s son Parth is one of two partners, prompting Mahayuti government to order a probe by a five-member committee and suspend a sub-registrar.
The state allegedly waived stamp duty of Rs 21 crore payable for the sale deed registration done in May, alleged activists who claimed the land’s market value was Rs 1,800 crore. CM Devendra Fadnavis said he has ordered an inquiry into the land deal. “Prima facie the issue appears to be serious. I have asked for officials concerned from land records, IGR and other revenue offices to share all the details with me,” he said.
Govt has suspended sub-registrar Ravindra Taru from IGR’s Haveli IV sub-registrar office on charges of “gross irregularity in registering the sale deed and causing loss to the exchequer”. The IGR authorised joint district registrar (class I) and stamp duty collector Santosh Hingane to initiate criminal proceedings against Taru, Sheetal Tejwani (who held power of attorney for the land), and Amadea Enterprises LLP partner Digvijay Patil, named in the sale deed. Ajit distanced himself from the case. In a statement that further stirred the row, he said he had heard something like this 3-4 months ago and had warned against anything wrong being done. “I had given clear directions that no one should do anything wrong. Directly, as Ajit Pawar, I have no connection with the case by far,” he said.He also said when children grow up, they begin their own profession. He clarified the address of the company concerned was not his but that of his son, Parth. “I have never contacted any official regarding favours to be done for my relatives. If anyone is using my name to do anything against the rules, I do not support it,” Ajit said. He said “the CM has the right to conduct an inquiry.”Supriya Sule of NCP (SP), however, defended her nephew, saying, “I believe in Parth, he won’t do anything wrong.”Pune district collector Jitendra Dudi told TOI, “There has been an illegal transaction and necessary inquiry is being carried out. Action will be taken against officials who are part of it.”
