Pune Sessions Court Denies Bail in High-Value Stamp Duty Evasion Case
The court of Additional Sessions Judge DP Ragit has firmly rejected the bail applications of two key accused in a significant stamp duty evasion case concerning a 40-acre government land parcel in Mundhwa, Pune. This decision marks a critical development in the ongoing investigation into alleged revenue losses amounting to crores of rupees for the state government.
Details of the Bail Rejection
According to an update posted on the district court's official website on Monday, the bail pleas of power-of-attorney holder Sheetal Tejwani and suspended sub-registrar Ravindra B Taru were formally rejected on February 16. District Government Pleader Pramod Bombatkar informed the media that a comprehensive text of the court's detailed order is anticipated to be released in due course, providing further legal clarity on the matter.
Tejwani's legal representative, advocate Deepali Kedar, confirmed the denial of bail, stating, "The bail was declined. We maintain that the merits of the case and the chargesheet submitted by the investigating agencies require proper appreciation. Our position is that this issue primarily constitutes a revenue violation. We have complete faith in the higher judiciary and are confident that the matter will receive fair and objective consideration in strict accordance with the law."
Allegations and Financial Implications
The core allegations revolve around the registration of a sale deed on May 20, 2025, where Taru is accused of colluding with Tejwani and another suspect to illegally waive a 7% stamp duty. This waiver translated to an estimated Rs 21 crore on a declared land deal consideration of Rs 300 crore, resulting in substantial revenue loss to the state exchequer.
Tejwani executed the sale deed on behalf of 272 watandars—the original holders of the Mahar Watan land before its acquisition by the state government following the abolition of the Mahar Watan system. The deed was in favor of Digvijay Patil, a partner in Amadea Enterprises LLP, which had plans to develop a data center at the site.
Connections and Ongoing Legal Proceedings
Notably, former deputy chief minister late Ajit Pawar's son, Parth Pawar, is another partner in Amadea Enterprises. However, Parth was not named in the First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Bavdhan police on November 6, 2025, based on a complaint filed by Joint District Registrar and Stamp Duty Collector Santosh Hingane.
Currently, the land in question is under the possession of the Botanical Survey of India, which holds a lease on the property until 2038. In related legal developments, Digvijay Patil's anticipatory bail application remains pending before the sessions court, with a hearing scheduled for February 18.
Previous Court Observations and Legal History
Earlier, on January 1, a magisterial court in Paud had rejected Taru's bail application, emphasizing in its observations: "The allegations indicated that despite clear indicators of government ownership and substantial stamp duty liability, Taru proceeded to register the document by charging a nominal amount, i.e., stamp paper of 500, resulting in an alleged loss of several crores of rupees to the state. Such acts, at this prima facie stage, cannot be brushed aside as mere inadvertent or clerical mistakes."
Subsequently, on January 13, the same court denied Tejwani's bail plea, prompting both accused to seek relief from the sessions court, which has now upheld the earlier decisions by rejecting their bail applications.
