By | Arvind Jadhav
Mumbai : A fresh controversy has erupted in Maharashtra after 40 acres of government-owned Mahar Vatan land in Pune’s Mundhwa/Koregaon Park area was reportedly sold to a private firm linked to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s son, Parth Pawar, at a fraction of the property’s estimated value. The state government has suspended officials and ordered an inquiry, while opposition parties have demanded a court-monitored probe.
Officials say the 40-acre tract — estimated by critics to be worth well over ₹1,500–1,800 crore — was transferred to Amadea/Amadea-type Enterprises (a company in which Parth Pawar is reported to have a stake) for roughly ₹300 crore, with allegations of irregular concessions including a large stamp-duty waiver. The transaction has prompted suspension of a sub-registrar and other revenue officials and the formation of a probe committee by the state revenue department.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has termed the matter “serious” and ordered an inquiry by the revenue department; officials say a tehsildar and a sub-registrar were suspended while the matter is examined. Several media outlets report the revenue inspector general has flagged losses to the state and missing mandatory clearances in the deal.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has publicly denied any connection with the transaction and said he will await the probe’s findings, stressing that no one is above the law. Parth Pawar has not publicly responded to multiple media queries, according to reports.
The opposition has seized on the case, demanding a judge-led or court-monitored inquiry and calling for accountability at the highest levels. Party leaders have alleged that the land was drastically undervalued and that the transaction involved procedural shortcuts. The controversy arrives at a politically sensitive time for the state government and has become a major talking point in assembly and public discourse.
Mahar Vatan parcels are government-controlled lands typically assigned for public use or redistributed under special laws; sales of such land require strict clearances and transparent valuation. Large undervaluations or improper waivers can cause substantial losses to the public exchequer and raise red flags under administrative and criminal statutes. Media reports indicate the IGR (Inspector General of Registration) has cited both potential loss and missing clearances in its preliminary observations.
The state inquiry will examine valuation, stamp duty calculations, required clearances and role of revenue and registration officials. If irregularities are confirmed, the case could trigger administrative penalties, FIRs and possibly further investigation by central agencies depending on the findings. Political demands for a court-monitored probe are likely to intensify in the coming days.
