Pune Land Investigation Committee Granted One-Week Extension for Report Submission
State Revenue Minister Chandrashekbar Bawankule announced on Thursday that the Vikas Kharge-led committee, which is probing alleged irregularities in a Mundhwa land purchase deed connected to Parth Pawar, has been granted a one-week extension to submit its final report. Parth Pawar is the son of the late deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.
Minister Dismisses Premature Clean Chit Reports as "Absolutely Wrong"
Minister Bawankule strongly refuted media reports suggesting that Parth Pawar had been cleared in the case, labeling such claims as "absolutely wrong" and premature. "Talks of a clean chit are premature. How can such things be declared when the committee is yet to submit its report? It would not be appropriate to comment on the matter until I see it," Bawankule stated in an interview with TOI.
Extension Granted Due to Upcoming Local Elections
The five-member panel, headed by Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Vikas Kharge, requested seven additional days in light of the zilla parishad and panchayat samiti elections scheduled for Saturday. The committee's original deadline was set to expire on Friday. "The committee sought more time due to the elections, and the extension was granted accordingly," explained Bawankule.
Inquiry Report in Final Stages, Says Senior Official
A senior revenue department official revealed that the inquiry report is nearing completion. "It is almost ready. Officials from the concerned departments have provided their inputs. A comprehensive report is being collated and will be submitted to the state government shortly," the official confirmed.
Merging Findings from Parallel Committee
Bawankule also disclosed that the findings of another five-member committee, appointed by the inspector general of registration and controller of stamps, will be integrated with the report from the Kharge panel. This consolidation aims to provide a thorough and unified assessment of the case.
Scope of the Kharge Committee's Investigation
The Kharge-led committee is examining alleged procedural lapses in the valuation, documentation, and the roles of officials involved in the registration of a land purchase deed related to survey number 88 at Mundhwa in Pune. The panel was established in early November last year amid significant political controversy.
Timeline and Previous Extensions
The committee was initially instructed to submit its report by December 6, 2023. However, the deadline was subsequently extended to January 6, 2024, and then by an additional month after the committee requested more time to scrutinize records and gather responses from multiple departments.
Committee Composition and Activist Criticism
Apart from Vikas Kharge, the committee includes the Pune divisional commissioner, the commissioner of land registration and director of land records, the inspector general of registration and controller of stamps, and the Pune district collector. Activists have criticized the repeated extensions, arguing that they could potentially dilute the investigation's rigor.
Activist Vijay Kumbhar expressed skepticism about the inquiry's outcomes, telling TOI, "Parth Pawar was given a clean chit in the EOW case. Here too, the committee is unlikely to name him." This sentiment reflects broader concerns about transparency and accountability in the probe.
