A scandalous land deal involving a botanical garden and IT ambitions has rocked the state of Maharashtra, India. But here's where it gets controversial: the land in question, once a botanical haven, was government property, and its sale has sparked a major investigation.
The Plot Unveiled:
The 40-acre land in Pune, at the heart of this drama, was allegedly sold in a shady transaction. Maharashtra's Joint Inspector General of Registration, Rajendra Muthe, revealed that the land belonged to the state and was never meant to be sold. This revelation comes amid an inquiry into the sale of the land by Sheetal Tejwani, a Pune resident and power of attorney holder, to a company linked to Parth Pawar, son of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, and Digvijay Patil.
The ownership documents, known as the 7/12 document, clearly indicate that the Mumbai Sarkar (former Bombay government) owned the land. Even the property card issued after 2018 confirmed this. Muthe emphasized that the power of attorney holder had no authority to sell the land, and a thorough investigation is underway.
A Timeline of Events:
The story begins in April 2024 when Amadea Enterprises LLP, a partnership between Pawar and Patil, obtained a Letter of Intent from Pune's District Industries Centre to establish an IT park. Surprisingly, just two days later, on April 24, the LoI was issued. This swift approval allowed the company to claim a stamp duty waiver and finalize the sale with Tejwani for a staggering Rs 300 crore.
But here's a twist: the policy enabling stamp duty waivers was approved by the Eknath Shinde-led Sena-BJP government in May 2023, conveniently just before Ajit Pawar joined the alliance. This policy offered a 100% stamp duty remission for land purchases to establish new data centers.
The Land's History:
The land has a complex past. Originally, it was a 'watan land,' a pre-Independence system where specific castes or families were granted land or revenue rights instead of cash for services. In 1955, the state government took over 17.51 hectares (43.26 acres) of this watan land, allegedly due to unpaid taxes. It was then leased for a botanical garden, with the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) establishing its western regional center there.
The BSI lease is set to expire in 2038, and the land is supposed to be returned to its original owners. Tejwani, as the power of attorney holder, was authorized to handle all matters related to the land, including applying for its regrant and managing legal procedures.
The Unraveling:
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced that the criminal case will continue despite the land deal being scrapped. He assured that strong action will be taken against those involved, stating that the land deal was completed but the money transaction was pending. Interestingly, both parties have now requested the cancellation of the registry application, which still requires payment.
Fadnavis also mentioned that a parallel inquiry led by an Additional Chief Secretary committee will submit a report within a month, shedding light on the extent of the matter and any additional culprits.
Ajit Pawar, facing allegations, denies any monetary exchange in the deal and asserts that the sale deed has been canceled. He has formed a six-member committee to investigate the irregularities, promising transparency.
And this is the part most people miss: the land's history, its controversial sale, and the political connections have sparked intense public interest. The question remains: will the investigation uncover more surprises, and will justice prevail in this complex web of power and property?
