Activist Sets 24-Hour Deadline for Deputy CM's Resignation
Social activist Anjali Damania has issued a stern 24-hour ultimatum to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, demanding immediate action against Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in connection with the controversial Rs 300 crore Mundhwa land deal case.
Damania declared on Wednesday that if the Chief Minister fails to ask Ajit Pawar to step down from his positions as Deputy Chief Minister and Pune Guardian Minister within the next 24 hours, she will escalate the matter by approaching Union Home Minister Amit Shah to press for her demand.
The Controversial Land Transaction
At the heart of the controversy lies a massive land deal involving Parth Pawar, the elder son of Ajit Pawar, and his company Amadea Enterprises LLP. The firm purchased a 40-acre government land in Pune's Mundhwa area for Rs 300 crore, a figure that has raised eyebrows given the property's alleged market value of approximately Rs 1,800 crore.
What makes the deal particularly contentious is the stamp duty payment. Instead of paying the expected Rs 21 crore in stamp duty for executing the sale agreement, the company paid merely Rs 500 after seeking and obtaining exemption.
Damania elaborated on the alleged irregularities, stating that "Amadea Enterprises had lied at every stage" of the transaction. The company had claimed it intended to conduct data mining on the land site, providing services to the IT sector and cybersecurity, as mentioned in the lease deed.
NCP's Response and Defense
The Nationalist Congress Party has responded to the allegations through its state president Sunil Tatkare, who emphasized that the state government has already appointed a committee to investigate the entire deal. Tatkare told The Indian Express that "the Deputy Chief Minister has already clarified this matter" and urged patience until the probe committee completes its investigation.
Tatkare acknowledged the activist's right to make demands but stressed that the truth would emerge through the proper investigative channels. The NCP maintains that since a committee has been established to examine the matter, all parties should await its findings before drawing conclusions.
Activist's Evidence and Next Steps
Damania revealed that she has already sent all relevant evidence related to the land deal to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's office. She plans to seek an appointment with Shah and has declared that if she doesn't get one, "I will sit outside his office" until her concerns are addressed.
The activist also targeted Pune district collector Jitendra Dudi, alleging that he knew about the fraudulent sale of Mundhwa land to Amadea Enterprises but failed to take appropriate action. Damania claimed that the central government had specifically instructed the collector to intervene immediately in the matter, but he did nothing.
When questioned about these allegations, Collector Dudi defended his office's actions, stating that they had "pro-actively taken steps" in the matter. He explained that after the Botanical Garden of India informed them that the tehsildar had instructed them to vacate their land and hand it over to the firm, they immediately intervened and proposed action against the tehsildar.
Demand for SIT Dissolution
In addition to calling for Ajit Pawar's resignation, Damania has reiterated her demand that the Special Investigation Team formed by the state government should be dissolved. She argues that the committee lacks impartiality since five of its six members belong to Pune, where Ajit Pawar serves as the guardian minister.
The activist's bold move comes amid growing scrutiny of the land deal that has captured public attention due to the significant discrepancy between the purchase price and the alleged market value, coupled with the minimal stamp duty payment that has raised questions about preferential treatment.
As the 24-hour deadline ticks away, political observers are watching closely to see how Chief Minister Fadnavis responds to this direct challenge and whether the matter will indeed reach the Union Home Minister's office as threatened by the determined activist.
