The Maharashtra Government on Friday set up a high-level committee to probe alleged irregularities in a land transaction in Pune linked to a firm in which Deputy Chief Minister (CM) Ajit Pawar`s son Parth is a partner, news agency PTI reported.
A Rs 300-crore deal for the sale of a 40-acre plot in the upscale Mundhwa area to Amadea Enterprises LLP, co-owned by Parth Pawar, has sparked a political row, as the land belongs to the government and the requisite stamp duty was waived. Opposition parties have alleged that the land is worth Rs 1,800 crore.
As per an order issued by the state revenue and forest department, the committee, headed by Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Vikas Kharge, will investigate the “unauthorised registration of documents” related to Survey No 88 in Mouje Mundhwa, Pune, and examine whether the transaction caused any financial loss to the state exchequer, PTI reported.
The committee is required to submit its report within one month. It includes the Pune Divisional Commissioner, inspector general of registration and stamps, settlement commissioner and director of land records, district collector, and joint secretary (stamps) in the revenue department.
The panel will look into how the land deal took place, identify officials or individuals responsible for any procedural violations, recommend corrective measures, and suggest ways to prevent such irregularities in future, PTI reported, quoting officials.
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said his son Parth and his business partner were not aware that the Pune land purchased by their company belonged to the government. He added that the registration of documents related to the deal was cancelled and an affidavit to this effect has been submitted to the authorities.
Meanwhile, anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare said ministers should be held accountable if their children indulge in wrongdoing. Speaking from his native village Ralegan Siddhi in Ahilyanagar district, Hazare said, “It is really unfortunate. If children of ministers are involved in wrongdoing, it is the ministers who should be blamed. What is more important is values, values that come from families. All such things happen because of lack of values.”
He urged the government to take strong action if irregularities were found in the Rs 300-crore deal. “The government should bring in policy decisions and take strong steps to curb such things. Strong action should be taken against such people [those found guilty of committing irregularities],” Hazare said.
(With PTI inputs)
