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A major political firestorm has sent shockwaves in the politics of Maharashtra after Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s son, Parth Pawar, got embroiled in a land deal signed by a company co-owned by him. At the core of the controversy lies a government land in Pune, reserved for Dalits, which led to ‘land theft’ charges against Parth’s Amadea Holdings LLP. 

He is also under fire because he got a stamp duty waiver by paying only Rs 500 for the land. The Opposition has tried to corner Pawar, turning it into a nationwide issue, while the BJP has come to the aid of its ally.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve raised serious questions about the land deal, pointing out that Amedia Holdings had an initial capital of only Rs 1 lakh. "The firm has started preparations to build an IT park and data center right in Koregaon Park (Pune), where real estate prices are sky-high. How was this possible for a company with a capital of 1 lakh (especially when it's Mahar Watan land)," he asked. 

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What Is The Pune Land Scam?

- The matter came to the limelight when RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar first raised the issue, alleging that the land in Pune's Mundhwa area was purchased at a price far below the prevailing market rate.

- According to available information, the controversial deal erupted after Amedea Holdings LLP, co-owned by Parth Pawar, purchased a 40-acre plot in Pune’s Mundhwa area for around Rs 300 crore.

- The amount was much less than the actual market value of the land, which is estimated to be Rs 1,804 crore, raising allegations of undue concessions.

- Additionally, the company received a stamp duty waiver just two days after the deal, paying only Rs 500 on the Rs 300 crore transaction.

- The land was originally reserved for the Mahar community and fell under the ‘Watan’ category of land. 

- Social activist Anjali Damania called this an "office of profit" case and demanded Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s resignation.

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Pune Land Scam: Government Action 

Two FIRs have been filed so far in the Rs 300 crore Pune land deal. The first FIR was filed by Pimpri-Chinchdwad police on a complaint filed by Inspector General of Registrar's office against Digvijay Patil (Parth Pawar's partner in Amedea Enterprises LLP, who reportedly owns 1% stake), Shital Tejwani (who represented the 272 'owners' of the land through a power of attorney), and sub-registrar RB Taru for alleged misappropriation and cheating.

The second FIR was filed by the Pune police on November 7, naming Digvijay Patil, Shital Tejwani and suspended revenue official Suryakant Yewale. According to the FIR, Yewale was known for facilitating the illegal transfer of government land to private individuals.

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However, both of the FIRs did not named Parth Pawar. When Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was asked why Parth Pawar has not been named in the FIR, he said that "when an FIR is registered, it is filed against the express parties involved." Reportedly, Parth Pawar was not present when the alleged land deal was signed.

The Deputy Chief Minister also came to his defence and said that his son Parth and his partner were not aware that it was governmental land. “They thought that the land was within the bounds of law. We took prompt action as soon as we became aware of the deal,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

"The sale deed should not have been executed. The registrar should not have done it. When I learnt of it, I said whoever is involved, it should be examined properly," he added. 

He also advised his son to take this as a process in the learning curve and asked him to examine all proposals thoroughly before signing.

Parth Pawar's company now faces a Rs 42 crore penalty in stamp duty, according to officials. This large amount is primarily due to the denial of a 7 per cent stamp duty exemption the company had requested (covering 5 per cent state duty, 1 per cent local tax, and 1 per cent metro cess). On top of this, the cancellation deed itself will cost an extra 7 per cent.

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Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Orders Probe

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a detailed investigation on Thursday, saying that the Mahayuti government will not tolerate any irregularities and ordered for an impartial investigation.

"If there are any irregularities, action will definitely be taken against them. Our coalition government believes in transparency; this matter will be probed to determine whether there are any irregularities, and if so, strict action will be taken," Fadnavis said.

The Chief Minister further assured that strict action will be taken against the perpetrators of the crime.

(With inputs from ANI)

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