Pune Land Deal Investigation Reveals Major Stamp Duty Evasion
A high-level committee investigating the controversial 44-acre land deal in Pune's Mundhwa area has submitted its report, revealing significant stamp duty evasion while notably not naming Parth Pawar, son of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, in its findings.
The committee headed by Joint Inspector General of Registration Rajendra Muthe submitted its report on Tuesday, focusing specifically on aspects related to stamp duty levy and evasion in the controversial transaction.
Three Individuals Named in Probe Report
The investigation committee has named three individuals in connection with the stamp duty evasion case: Digvijay Patil of Amadea Enterprises LLP, Sheetal Tejwani, and sub-registrar Ravindra Taru.
According to the report, all three individuals named in the FIR have been found responsible for the stamp duty evasion. Sub-registrar Ravindra Taru faces additional charges of executing a fraudulent sale deed related to government land.
Sheetal Tejwani held the power of attorney for 272 land holders of Mahar Watan land, while Digvijay Patil serves as a partner in Amadea Enterprises LLP - the company where Parth Pawar holds 99 percent shareholding. Patil is reportedly a close relative of Parth Pawar.
Massive Financial Implications Revealed
The financial scale of the evasion is substantial, with the report indicating that while the land deal was registered for Rs 294 crore, the actual market value is estimated to be around Rs 1,800 crore.
When the transaction was registered, the government should have collected approximately Rs 21 crore in stamp duty along with registration fees. However, records show that only Rs 500 was paid, resulting in a massive revenue loss to the state exchequer.
IGR officials confirmed that not only was the Rs 21 crore stamp duty not paid during the original deal, but now for cancelling the transaction, Amadea Enterprises will have to pay another Rs 21 crore. The Department of Registration and Stamps served a notice to this effect to the firm on November 6.
Key Irregularities in Registration Process
The investigation uncovered serious procedural violations in how the land deal was registered. The report states that sub-registrar Ravindra Taru registered the Mundhwa land as moveable property when it should have been classified as immoveable property.
"As it is an immoveable property, it should have been registered as such. But be it moveable or immoveable, the stamp duty has not been paid," the report clearly states.
The committee also found that an invalid document was attached with the deal - specifically, the 7/12 extract which has now been converted into property card was improperly included with the registered deal.
Scope of Investigation and Political Context
Committee head Rajendra Muthe clarified that Parth Pawar was not part of their investigation scope since the committee's mandate was limited to examining stamp duty evasion aspects only.
"The committee probed the aspect of tax evasion and found the three guilty which includes the sub-registrar. FIRs have been registered against all the three. The committee's job was to look into how much stamp duty should have been levied, the evasion aspect and the deficiencies related to it," Muthe told The Indian Express.
This is the first of two committees investigating the controversial land deal. A separate panel is carrying out probes into other aspects of the case beyond stamp duty evasion.
Systemic Reforms Recommended
The committee has proposed several important reforms to prevent similar incidents in the future. The report recommends that qualified senior and experienced Joint Deputy Registrars should be appointed to posts in districts that are important for revenue collection.
Additionally, the committee suggested modifications to the Registration Act 1908, particularly concerning Section 18A which was inserted through an amendment dated April 28, 2025. The report argues for clearer provisions to ensure that deeds of properties in government possession, even if not fully owned by the government, cannot be registered improperly.
The report also emphasized that the land in question, which is possessed by the government and leased to the Botanical Survey of India, could not have been legally sold in this manner - a point previously clarified by the District Collector.
Activist Reactions and Future Developments
Activist Anjali Damnia has stated that Parth Pawar has not received any clean chit from the investigation. She claimed that once suspended tehsildar Suryakant Yewale is brought to the police station, he will reveal crucial details about the deal.
"If Yewale is questioned by the police, he will take the name of Parth Pawar and Amadea Enterprises. He will reveal all the details as to how the deal took place," Damania asserted.
The activist has urged police to arrest Yewale, who currently has anticipatory bail, and predicted that Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar might have to resign over the controversy.
The report has been forwarded to Divisional Commissioner Chandrakant Pulkundwar, and the cancellation of the controversial land deal was announced by Ajit Pawar himself after the controversy came to light.
