Maharashtra Revenue Minister to Consult CM on Sealed Mundhwa Land Deal Report
State Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced on Tuesday that he will consult Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding the next steps after receiving the sealed report from the Vikas Kharge committee investigating the controversial Mundhwa land deal earlier in the day.
The sealed report is currently on my table. I have not yet opened it or reviewed its contents. I intend to discuss the matter with the Chief Minister before determining any further course of action, Bawankule stated to the press. He added that the report might be forwarded to the CM's office following their consultations.
No Immediate Statement Due to Official Engagements
The revenue minister clarified that he is unlikely to issue any immediate statement on the report's findings, as both he and the Chief Minister are occupied with official events related to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Mumbai on Tuesday.
Addressing media reports that claimed the committee had exonerated Parth Pawar, a partner in Amadea Enterprises LLP connected to the land transaction, Bawankule firmly dismissed these assertions as absolutely wrong. I have not even opened the report. Any speculation about its contents is entirely premature, he emphasized.
Activists Demand Transparency and Question Actions
Activist Anjali Damania has called for the full report to be made public. I have also requested the detailed report from the Chief Minister, she said, questioning how certain media outlets could declare a clean chit for Parth Pawar when the report remains undisclosed.
Last week, the state revenue department recommended the dismissal of two officials—sub registrar R Taru and tehsildar Suryakant Yewale—linked to the Mundhwa land deal. Senior government sources confirmed that this proposal is under process and undergoing legal scrutiny.
Activist Vijay Kumbhar raised concerns about this recommendation, asking why only these two officials are being targeted for alleged irregularities and stamp duty evasion by Amadea Enterprises LLP. If accurate, this would represent selective justice and an attempt to protect influential individuals, he argued, labeling the report an eyewash.
Background of the Kharge Committee and Land Deal
The Kharge panel, led by Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Vikas Kharge, was established to examine procedural lapses in the valuation and registration of a land purchase deed at Mouje Mundhwa. This six-member committee included senior officials from the revenue and registration departments.
The controversy centers on a 40-acre Mahar Watan land parcel, historically held by 272 watandars. After the abolition of the Mahar Watan system, the government took over the land and leased it to the Botanical Society of India until 2038. Sheetal Tejwani, claiming to represent the original landholders, executed a sale deed in favor of Amadea Enterprises LLP for a declared amount of Rs 300 crore, intended for a proposed data center.
The dispute emerged in November 2025 when the Haveli sub registrar IV office registered the deed on May 20, 2025, allegedly waiving 7% stamp duty worth Rs 21 crore without proper authorization, despite records identifying the land as government-owned.
On November 7, 2025, the state government appointed the Kharge committee to investigate the irregularities, identify responsible officials, recommend disciplinary or legal actions, propose methods to restore the land's legal status, and suggest systemic safeguards to prevent similar issues in the future.
