The Maharashtra state government has granted a crucial one-month extension to a high-level committee investigating alleged financial irregularities in a controversial land purchase deal in Pune's Mundhwa area. The probe is linked to a firm associated with Parth Pawar, son of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Deadline Extended Amid Pending Inquiries
The five-member investigative panel, which was originally scheduled to submit its findings on December 6, will now have until early January to complete its work. The extension was officially approved late on Wednesday night, December 3, through an order issued by the state revenue and forest department. The order was signed by Joint Secretary Satyanarayan Bajaj.
Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule had constituted this special committee on November 7 to look into the alleged irregularities concerning survey number 88 in Mundhwa. The committee is headed by Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Vikas Kharge and includes senior officials such as the Pune divisional commissioner, the commissioner of land registration, the director of land records, the inspector general of registration, and the Pune collector.
Reasons for the Delay and Political Reactions
Officials stated that the extension became necessary following a review meeting chaired by Vikas Kharge. During this meeting, it was noted that statements from several key stakeholders were still pending. A senior revenue official explained that the committee is in the process of gathering views from all involved parties, some of whom are yet to appear before it, while others have been asked to resubmit their statements.
The extension did not come as a surprise to opposition politicians, many of whom had anticipated that the report would not be ready before the commencement of the state assembly's winter session next week. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar confirmed he would raise the issue in the legislative house. He has already written to the Pune collector, questioning why a civil suit has not been filed to reclaim the disputed government land.
Allegations of a Scam and Calls for Independent Probe
Activist Vijay Kumbhar has been a vocal critic of the committee's formation and has now criticized the extension. He alleges that the committee was formed merely to mislead the public and that it represents a clear conflict of interest, with those responsible for preventing such scams now investigating themselves.
Kumbhar had previously written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the chief secretary, alleging a "massive and planned misappropriation" of valuable government land. His complaint outlines a complex chain of events where, despite an existing government lease to the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) valid until 2038, officials allegedly accepted a mere Rs 11,000 as "land ownership value" from a private individual. This action, taken without a formal government order, allegedly triggered a series of illegal transactions.
He claims this culminated in a sale deed registered in May 2025 that lacked proper documentation, including proof of ownership, valuation, consideration, or stamp duty details. Kumbhar has urged the government to secure the land, suspend the implicated officers, and order an independent judicial or revenue inquiry, warning that further delay would severely erode the government's credibility.
The unfolding scandal, with its political connections and allegations of billions in losses, is set to become a major point of contention as the state assembly session begins.
