Mundhwa Land Inquiry Exonerates Parth Pawar, Points Finger at Officials and Firm
An extensive investigation into the controversial 41-acre Mundhwa land transaction has concluded that Parth Pawar, son of former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, bears no liability in the matter. The inquiry panel, however, has placed accountability squarely on revenue and registration officials, as well as Amadea Enterprises LLP, the company associated with the deal. The report advocates for stringent measures against those responsible for the illicit transfer of government land.
Committee Mandate and Criminal Investigation Boundaries
The panel, led by Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Vikas Kharge, clarified that its inquiry was confined to civil and revenue-related irregularities, such as loss of land revenue and stamp duty. Criminal liability, it emphasized, falls under the purview of police investigation. While representations were made to include other partners of Amadea Enterprises LLP in criminal cases, the committee stated that examining the company's financial condition or the roles of additional partners is a matter for law enforcement agencies.
Notably, FIRs have already been filed naming Ashok Gaikwad and 271 others (sellers in the purchase deed), Sheetal Tejwani (attorney-in-fact for sellers), and Digvijay Amarsingh Patil (buyer). The panel affirmed that any further involvement will be determined through ongoing police probes.
Report Tabling and Government Action
Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule presented the voluminous 4,392-page inquiry report in both the legislative council and the legislative assembly on Wednesday. He announced that the government has accepted the findings of the five-member committee and has initiated action based on its recommendations. The report, submitted on February 12, is available on the revenue department's official website.
Irregularities and Recommendations Highlighted
The committee flagged serious irregularities in the illegal purchase and registration of government land on survey numbers 88/1 to 88/26 in Mundhwa, describing the transaction as a "very serious matter." It called for criminal action and suspension of officials, restoration of the land to the government, and systemic reforms to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Specifically, the report noted that registration of purchase deeds for government land amounted to an illegal transfer of government property. It recommended strict action against both buyers and sellers, holding them accountable for the misconduct.
Officials Suspended and Departmental Proceedings
In response to the findings, Ravindra Taru (joint deputy registrar) and Suryakant Yewale (Pune city tehsildar) have been suspended with immediate effect. Departmental inquiries have been initiated against both for potential dismissal from service. Additionally, departmental proceedings were started against Santosh Hingane, district joint registrar of Pune city, who waived the stamp duty. The report criticized this act, stating, "Giving exemption in stamp duty and filing the documents of the land transaction for adjudicating when government owns it, is serious."
Amadea Enterprises LLP and Legal Challenges
The committee found that Digvijay Patil, acting on behalf of Amadea Enterprises LLP, purchased the land despite knowing it belonged to the government and could not be legally acquired. This was termed a serious illegal act, with Patil held responsible. Cases have been registered at two police stations, and a detailed investigation is underway.
Furthermore, the district joint registrar, Pune city, has ordered payment of Rs 21 crore towards short-paid stamp duty at the time of registration. Amadea Enterprises LLP has challenged this order before the Inspector General of Registration (IGR), and the appeal remains pending.
Power of Attorney and Ongoing Scrutiny
During hearings, financial statements, company resolutions, partner details, and a second power of attorney issued by Tejwani were submitted to the committee. The report observed that Tejwani, as attorney-in-fact for Ashok Gaikwad and others, issued a notarized power of attorney to Parth Pawar. The committee noted that a power of attorney in connection with government land is illegal and a criminal matter, adding that this document is part of the ongoing police investigation.
Systemic Reforms and Future Precautions
The Vikas Kharge committee emphasized the need for systemic reforms to avoid repetitions of the Mundhwa mistake. It highlighted that officials from the revenue and stamps and registration departments who facilitated the sale, purchase, and registration of illegal documents were responsible for administrative lapses. Allowing registration of government land transactions reflected grave negligence, with responsibility fixed on officials and stakeholders involved.
