Sharing is caring!
CM Fadnavis Orders Probe After ₹300 Crore Sale of Government Land to Ajit Pawar’s Son’s Firm
Mumbai, November 7, 2025
The government of Maharashtra has launched a high-level investigation into the controversial sale of approximately 40 acres of government-owned “Mahar Watan” land in Pune’s Mundhwa region to a firm linked to Parth Pawar, son of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
The deal, reportedly valued at ₹300 crore, has sparked allegations of procedural irregularities, undervaluation of public land, and a possible conflict of interest.
What’s Under Scrutiny:
The plot in question—about 40 acres of land registered under “Mahar Watan” (i.e., community land historically granted for members of the Mahar community)—was transferred to Amadea Enterprises LLP (also cited as Amedea/Amedia in various reports), a company where Parth Pawar is listed as a partner.
The land, government-owned, is not legally supposed to be sold to a private entity under normal rules. An official cited by the media noted: “Since the land belongs to the government, it cannot be sold to a private firm.”
The documents show that the transaction was registered in May, the stamp duty reportedly waived (some sources claim only ₹500 stamp duty was charged), and the company’s capital base is minimal raising questions of how the deal was approved so swiftly.
Opposition parties have claimed that the fair market value of the land could be as high as ₹1,800 crore or more, pointing to an apparent undervaluation in the deal.
Government Response:
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the matter as “prima facie serious”, and ordered the Revenue Department, the Registration and Stamp Controller, and other relevant agencies to provide full details of the transaction.
A probe committee (various sources mention between 3 and 5 members) has been constituted, headed by Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Vikas Kharge or other senior officers, to examine how the land was transferred, whether due process (including stamp duty, registration, rights of the Watan land) was followed, and whether any officials facilitated or overlooked irregularities.
At least one sub-registrar and a tehsildar in Pune have been suspended pending the probe. Their alleged role: registering or facilitating the transfer of government land to a private entity.
Ajit Pawar, when asked, distanced himself from the transaction: “I have no connection… if any rules are broken, I will not support it.”
Political Fallout & Public Reactions:
Opposition parties—particularly the Indian National Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction—are calling for a judicial inquiry, citing the magnitude of the land’s value, the speed of the transaction, and the alleged preferential treatment given to a company linked to the deputy chief minister’s son.
Critics highlight that the company had a paid-up capital of only ₹1 lakh and yet was able to acquire prime land, and that the stamp duty waiver raises questions of fairness and transparency.
Some civil society voices point to this case as symptomatic of larger concerns around “Watan” land transfers, undervaluation of public assets, and elites gaining access through quick bureaucratic approvals.
The ruling coalition (the “Mahayuti” – comprising the BJP, NCP [Ajit’s faction], and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena) is under pressure to demonstrate impartiality and action, given the involvement of an executive family member.
Key Questions the Probe Needs to Answer:
Was the land genuinely government-owned and classified as “Mahar Watan” (thus non-alienable to private entities)?
Was the sale price of ₹300 crore commensurate with market value, or was there significant undervaluation?
Why was the stamp duty reportedly waived or vastly reduced? Were legal provisions for such a waiver legitimately met?
What role did the registration & revenue officials play? Were any norms bypassed, and were approvals expedited beyond standard timelines?
Did the company purchasing the land fulfill eligibility criteria (capital, track record) for the proposed development (e.g., IT park/data centre) stated in the proposal?
What safeguards exist to prevent family-linked or politically-connected firms from acquiring state assets via non-transparent methods?
What Happens Next:
The probe committee is expected to submit its report within 10 days (as reported) to the chief minister’s office.
Depending on the findings, possible outcomes include: cancellation of the transfer, recovery of land or financial compensation, administrative action against erring officials, and possibly criminal proceedings if fraud or breach of trust is established.
If wrongdoing is confirmed, it could have significant ramifications for land-asset governance in Maharashtra, especially around “Watan” lands and high-value urban plots in Pune and Mumbai.
In sum, the episode figures as a serious test of the government’s commitment to transparency and fairness in land transactions. With the chief minister himself signalling a firm stance (“If there is wrongdoing, action will be taken”), the investigatory spotlight is firmly on a politically sensitive transaction that intertwines public assets, private firms and family interests.
Team: Yuvamorcha.com
