A shocking land deal scandal has emerged in Pune, Maharashtra, involving a piece of land with a rich history and a controversial present. The 40-acre property, once a watan land belonging to the Mahar community, has been at the center of a probe into alleged irregularities. But here’s the twist: this land, now leased to the Botanical Survey of India, was sold to a limited liability partnership linked to the son of the state’s Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar.
Let’s unravel this complex story step by step. The land, originally owned by the state government, was leased to the Botanical Survey of India, a central government organization, for the purpose of establishing a botanical garden. This lease is set to expire in 2038, and the land is supposed to be returned to its rightful owners. However, a series of events led to this land being sold, raising serious questions.
In April 2024, Amadea Enterprises LLP, a partnership involving Parth Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s son, and Digvijay Patil, applied to set up an IT park on this land. Within just two days, they received a Letter of Intent from the Pune District Industries Centre. This swift approval allowed them to claim a stamp duty waiver, a policy introduced by the Sena-BJP government led by Eknath Shinde, just months before Ajit Pawar joined the alliance.
The land was then sold to Sheetal Tejwani, who held the power of attorney on behalf of the original owners. The sale deed, worth Rs 300 crore, was executed in May 2025. But here’s where it gets controversial: the person holding the power of attorney is not authorized to sell the land, as confirmed by the Joint Inspector General of Registration, Rajendra Muthe.
The state government is now probing this entire matter, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announcing an inquiry committee. The committee is investigating the alleged irregularities and will submit its report within seven days. The land deal has since been scrapped, as announced by Ajit Pawar himself, but the criminal case will continue, and strong action will be taken against those responsible.
And this is the part most people miss: the land was originally taken over by the state government in 1955 due to non-payment of taxes. It was then leased for a botanical garden, and the lease was extended for 50 years in 1988. The current lease expires in 2038, and only then will the land be returned to its original owners, provided the lease is not extended further.
Battling allegations, Ajit Pawar maintains that no money was exchanged in the land deal, and he expects a transparent investigation by the six-member committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary Vikas Kharge.
This story raises important questions about the role of government officials, the integrity of land deals, and the potential misuse of power. What are your thoughts on this complex issue? Feel free to share your opinions and engage in a discussion in the comments below.