A Pune court on Thursday remanded Sheetal Tejwani, a prime accused in the controversial Pune land deal case with connections to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's son Parth, to police custody until December 11. Tejwani was arrested by Pune police on Wednesday for her alleged role in irregularities surrounding the sale of Mahar watan land in Mundhwa.
The Core Allegations and Tejwani's Role
Sheetal Tejwani held the power of attorney for 272 watandars (hereditary holders) of the Mahar watan land in Mundhwa. She facilitated the sale of this land to Amadea Enterprises LLP, a firm where Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's son, Parth Pawar, is a partner along with Digvijay Patil. The land, classified as Mahar Watan—a hereditary grant—was under government possession and leased to the Botanical Survey of India at the time of the sale deed execution in May this year.
The case centers on the alleged illegal sale of approximately 40 acres of prime land in Mundhwa. According to regulations, this specific category of land cannot be sold without obtaining mandatory prior approval from the state government. It is alleged that the sale was conducted not only without this approval but also at a significantly undervalued price, with a waiver of stamp duty.
Court Proceedings and Custody Battle
After her arrest, Tejwani was produced before the court on Thursday. The prosecution, seeking a 14-day police custody, argued that she was not cooperating with the ongoing investigation into the intricate details of the deal. In contrast, Tejwani's defence lawyer contended that her arrest was illegal, claiming all necessary procedures were followed by the police. After hearing both sides, the court granted police custody, but only until December 11, for further interrogation.
This is not the first time Tejwani has faced questioning. Pune police had interrogated her multiple times during the third week of November as part of their probe. The First Information Report (FIR), initially registered at Khadak police station and later transferred to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), involves alleged irregularities in two separate land parcels in Bopodi and Mundhwa. A common link in both cases is suspended tehsildar Suryakant Yewale, accused of issuing wrongful orders.
Broader Implications and Political Connections
The case has stirred significant controversy due to the high-profile political connections involved. The direct link to Parth Pawar, son of NCP president and powerful Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has placed the land deal under intense scrutiny. The allegations of bypassing government approval, undervaluation, and stamp duty waiver point to a potential major financial and regulatory scam.
The remand of Sheetal Tejwani to police custody indicates that investigators are focusing on unraveling the chain of command, the flow of documents, and the precise roles played by all accused, including the alleged involvement of government officials. The outcome of this probe could have substantial political ramifications in Maharashtra.
