The Bombay High Court has provided temporary protection from arrest to a suspended Pune city official until January 19 in a significant case involving alleged illegal transfer of government land to private entities. The court's order offers a reprieve to Suryakant Yewale, the suspended tehsildar, who faces serious accusations related to two separate land parcels in Mundhwa and Bopodi.
Court's Interim Order and Legal Proceedings
On January 5, a bench led by Justice Madhav J Jamdar directed that no coercive action be taken against Yewale until the next hearing date of January 19. This decision came after senior advocate Harshad Nimbalkar informed the court about previous legal protections. The Pune sessions court had initially granted Yewale protection from arrest on November 13, 2025, which remained in effect until it rejected his anticipatory bail plea on November 22, 2025. Following this rejection, Yewale's request to extend the interim protection was also turned down by the lower court, leading to the appeal in the High Court.
The Mundhwa Land Controversy: A 300-Crore Deal
The core of the allegations revolves around a prime 40-acre land parcel in Mundhwa. This land, originally classified as Mahar Watan land, was taken over by the government after the abolition of the Mahar Watan system. The case gained prominence following the registration of a sale deed for a staggering Rs 300 crore. The deed was executed between Sheetal Tejwani, acting as the power of attorney holder for 272 original Watandars, and Digvijay Patil, a partner in Amadea Enterprises LLP.
Adding a political dimension to the case, the other partner in Amadea Enterprises is Parth Pawar, son of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Notably, Parth Pawar has not been named as an accused in the First Information Report (FIR) related to this transaction. Yewale's specific alleged misconduct involves passing an order directing the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) to vacate the land. The BSI holds a valid lease for the property until 2038. This order was reportedly issued following an application made by Amadea Enterprises seeking such a directive.
The Bopodi Land Case and College of Agriculture's Intervention
The second case involves a 5-hectare and 35-are (5ha & 35R) land in Bopodi, which is currently under the possession of the College of Agriculture (CoA), Pune. During the High Court hearing, lawyer Sandeep Paigude, representing the college, requested that the CoA be heard in the matter. The FIR registered by Khadak police pertains to an order passed by Yewale on July 1, 2025. In his capacity as the Tehsildar and Agricultural Lands Tribunal for Pune, Yewale allegedly extended ownership rights of this government land in favor of private parties.
Acknowledging the college's stake, the High Court bench stated, "In view of these circumstances, the applicant shall implead the College of Agriculture, Pune as party-Respondent No.2." This ensures the educational institution will be a formal party to the ongoing legal proceedings.
Investigation and Broader Implications
The legal machinery was set in motion when naib tehsildar Pravina Borde filed a formal complaint on November 7, 2025. Based on this complaint, the Khadak police registered a case. The investigation is now being handled by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Pune police, indicating the serious financial and procedural irregularities suspected in the matter.
The High Court's interim order provides Yewale a brief window while the complex web of allegations—involving valuable government land, high-value transactions, and the involvement of influential entities—is untangled. The next hearing on January 19 is expected to be a crucial step in determining the future course of this legally and politically sensitive case.
