The Maharashtra Revenue Department has suspended a sub-registrar over a Rs 300-crore land deal in Pune, allegedly involving Deputy Chief Minister (CM) Ajit Pawar’s son, Parth Pawar, news agency PTI reported. A high-level committee has been formed to investigate how government land was sold to a private firm, officials said on Thursday.
According to them, 40 acres of Mahar Vatan land, government-owned property, was sold to Amadea Enterprises LLP, where Parth Pawar is a partner, for Rs 300 crore, with the stamp duty reportedly waived.
“Since the land belongs to the government, it cannot be sold to a private entity,” an official clarified.
Inspector General of Registration Ravindra Binwade confirmed that the committee will verify whether the stamp duty exemption and registration process followed proper norms.
“As an immediate step, the sub-registrar has been suspended because registration of government land should not have taken place,” he said.
Sources from the revenue department said official land records list the plot under “Mumbai Sarkar,” while the sale documents show private ownership transfers.
Parth Pawar could not be reached for comment.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, addressing reporters in Nagpur, said, “Prima facie, the issue appears serious. I have directed departments to conduct a detailed probe. Appropriate action will be taken after reviewing the findings.”
RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar alleged that the land in Pune’s upmarket Mundhwa area, worth far more than Rs 300 crore, was sold to the firm and that Rs 21 crore in stamp duty was waived.
He questioned, “Why are some people more equal than others?”
Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said his department would review the deal once a formal complaint is received. Bawankule noted that activist Anjali Damania has promised to submit documents by November 11.
Meanwhile, the opposition has called for a judicial probe. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar alleged the sale violated legal provisions and demanded transparency in the inquiry. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve claimed the land’s market value is around Rs 1,800 crore and questioned how a company with Rs 1 lakh in capital could purchase it.
“The company even proposed setting up an IT park and completed the transaction within 27 days,” Danve alleged, also accusing the Industries Department of waiving the stamp duty. “Ajit Pawar says people want things for free, but why did they want this land for free?” he questioned.
(With PTI inputs)