Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday said that an inquiry has been launched into the alleged Pune land deal linked to Parth Pawar and that the truth will soon come to light, reported the PTI.
The investigation into the alleged illegal sale of government land in Pune to his son Parth’s company was ongoing, Ajit Pawar said.
Speaking to reporters in Baramati, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief said that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had appointed the inquiry committee, and that the investigation would reveal all details within a month, according to the PTI.
The controversy centres around the sale of 40 acres of government land in Pune’s Mundhwa area for Rs 300 crore to Amadea Enterprises, a company in which Parth Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s son, is a partner. Though two FIRs have been filed in connection with the deal, Parth has not been named as an accused.
Ajit Pawar said, “I still don’t understand how a document can be registered without a transaction of even one rupee. The inquiry will make everything clear soon,” as per the PTI.
He also urged authorities to take action against any of his associates or relatives if they use his name to break rules.
Meanwhile, CM Fadnavis has said that the case is being handled strictly as per law and “there is no question of saving anyone.” The sale deed has since been scrapped, though the company will reportedly have to pay double stamp duty, around Rs 42 crore, to cancel the registration.
Opposition leaders have alleged that the land’s market value was closer to Rs 1,800 crore and claimed the sale lacked mandatory government permissions.
Ajit Pawar reiterated that Parth was unaware the land purchased by his company was government-owned, the news agency reported.
Meanwhile, earlier, Ajit Pawar had on Saturday described the land transaction as “completely beyond understanding” and said it should not have occurred.
He added that a detailed investigation has been ordered into the matter.
The controversy pertains to the sale of 40 acres of government-owned land in Pune’s Mundhwa area to Amadea Enterprises LLP, a firm associated with Parth Pawar. The deal has drawn criticism for allegedly undervaluing the property and evading stamp duty.
“This transaction should not have happened at all. When we looked at the documents, the first question that came to mind was: how did the registrar even process this transaction? It was completely beyond our understanding,” Pawar said while addressing a press conference in Pune, reported PTI.
(With PTI inputs)
