Bombay High Court Postpones Charges Framing in Eknath Khadse Land Deal Case
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday deferred the hearing for framing of charges against Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Eknath Khadse and his wife Mandakini Khadse in connection with alleged irregularities in a 2016 Pune land deal. The court's decision came as the couple were not present before the bench.
Court Suggests Cancellation of Non-Bailable Warrants
A single-judge bench of Justice Ashwin D. Bhobe orally suggested that Khadse and his wife approach the special court to get the non-bailable warrants (NBWs) issued against them cancelled. The warrants were issued due to their absence from previous court proceedings.
During the hearing, Justice Bhobe remarked, "Why are you shying from appearing? Get NBW cancelled (from the special court)." Advocate Karansingh Rajpur, representing the applicants, assured the court that his clients would take necessary steps to get the warrants cancelled.
Background of the Case
The case originates from a 2016 complaint filed by Pune developer Hemant Gawande, who alleged that Eknath Khadse, while serving as Maharashtra's Revenue Minister, misused his official position to facilitate the purchase of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation-owned land in Bhosari. The property was allegedly bought by Mandakini Khadse and their son-in-law Girish Chaudhari for Rs 3.75 crore, significantly below the market value of approximately Rs 40 crore.
The Pune Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) registered a case in April 2017 following Bombay High Court directives. Subsequently, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) lodged its own case based on the ACB's First Information Report.
Legal Proceedings and Current Status
The High Court was hearing applications filed by Khadse and his wife challenging a trial court's December 2025 order that refused to discharge them from the case. Advocate Rajpur informed the court that similar issues were being considered by a division bench in a writ petition and requested time to approach that bench.
Chief Public Prosecutor Mankunwar Deshmukh, representing the state, opposed the request for deferment. However, Justice Bhobe granted the applicants one week to take appropriate steps and requested the special court to postpone the hearing scheduled for February 13 until after February 24.
The judge clarified that this deferment was solely to allow the matter to be listed before the appropriate bench and that he had expressed no opinion on the merits of the case.
Next Steps in the Legal Process
The trial court had scheduled the framing of charges for August 13, 2026. Advocate Rajpur sought a stay on this proceeding until the application could be moved before the division bench. The court's order now provides a temporary reprieve for the accused while they navigate the legal complexities of their defense.
This development marks another chapter in the long-running legal battle surrounding the controversial land deal, which has drawn significant attention due to Khadse's political stature and the serious corruption allegations involved.
