Pune: Maharashtra's Chief Controlling Revenue Authority (CCRA) Ravindra Binwade has rejected Amadea Enterprises LLP's appeal and confirmed the Joint District Registrar and Collector of Stamps' order of December 10, 2025, demanding Rs 21 crore in stamp duty, along with a 1% penalty, with effect from May 20, 2025, against unauthorised stamp duty exemption in the controversial Mundhwa land deal. As of December 19, 2025, the 1% penalty stood at Rs 1.46 crore.
Order Details and Appeal Options
The April 28 order by Binwade, who also serves as the Inspector General of Registrations (IGR), stated that Amadea had 60 days from the date of receipt of the order to file an appeal before the state government as per provisions under the Maharashtra Stamp Act. Senior advocate Bhalchandra Nikte, representing Amadea, told TOI, 'We will exercise the remedy of moving an appeal before state govt. The order states that the firm can challenge it before state govt under Section 53 B of the Maharashtra Stamp Act within 60 days.'
Background of the Land Deal
The appeal was related to the registration of a sale deed on May 20, 2025, between Amadea — in which Digvijay Patil and Parth Pawar (son of deputy CM Sunetra Pawar) are partners — and Sheetal Tejwani, the power of attorney (PoA) holder on behalf of the 272 original holders of a 40-acre erstwhile Mahar Watan land in Mundhwa for a consideration of Rs 300 crore. The Annual Statement of Rates (ASR) valuation of the land was Rs 294.65 crore.
Exemption Claim and LoI Issue
Amadea, which intended to develop a data center on the land, paid a mere Rs 500 stamp duty by claiming 100% exemption under the government's February 1, 2024 notification (which provides such duty waiver to IT/ITES units) based on a Letter of Intent (LoI) issued by the District Industries Centre (DIC). In his order, Binwade held that the LoI 'is an expression of intent by the industries department to support the proposed project and not a certification of the unit's eligibility for stamp duty exemption.' The DIC's no-objection certificate (NOC) was one of the mandatory conditions for Amadea to qualify for the exemption, which was not the case, Binwade ruled.
Dismissal of Arguments
The CCRA in the order dismissed Amadea's arguments challenging the municipal cess counted as part of the duty shortfall and jurisdiction of the Collector of Stamps in issuing the impugned order, among other things. Joint Inspector General of Registration and Stamps Rajendra Muthe told TOI that the final order was passed after giving Amadea Enterprises LLP an opportunity to be heard. 'The firm has been directed to pay the amount specified in the order, which includes the deficit stamp duty along with the penalty applicable till the date of payment,' he said.
DIC Clarification and Liability Assessment
The DIC, while responding to a query by the IGR officials, had clarified that the LoI alone was insufficient for availing exemption. The revenue authority held that the NOC was a mandatory pre-condition and absence of the document at the time of execution invalidated the exemption claim. The order also rejected the firm's plea that the 2% municipal cess formed part of stamp duty and dismissed its challenge to proceedings initiated under sections 33 and 39 of the Stamp Act. The CCRA assessed total liability at about Rs 21 crore, including 5% duty and 2% cess. On deducting the Rs 500 duty already paid, the authority worked out the deficit duty to Rs 21 crore and Rs 1.46 crore penalty.
