The joint inspector general of registration had served the notice last Friday, directing the company to pay double stamp duty before executing a cancellation deed for the land in Pune’s Mundhwa area.
The land transaction — valued at ₹300 crore for a plot allegedly worth ₹1,800 crore — has sparked political outrage, prompting Ajit Pawar to announce that the sale deed would be revoked.
“It is government land. I will ask the stamps and registration department to explain under which category the ₹42 crore has been sought and why such a demand was made when the sale deed itself is being cancelled,” Bawankule said, adding that he would also direct the inspector general of registration (IGR) to examine the circumstances behind the notice.
The minister said that Parth’s name does not figure in the FIR, as the complaint is based strictly on the names listed in the registered sale deed.
Bawankule also met activist Anjali Damania, who has been pursuing the matter, and said she could submit any evidence she has to the inquiry committee headed by additional chief secretary Vikas Kharage. “Kharage is a clean officer and will not allow any interference in the probe,” the minister said.
FIRs have been filed against those involved in the execution of the sale deed, including Digvijay Patil of Amadea Enterprises, Shital Tejwani, who represented 272 supposed landowners through a power of attorney, and sub-registrar RB Taru, for alleged misappropriation and cheating.
Officials said the firm will still need to pay double the stamp duty—about ₹42 crore—if it wants to legally cancel the transaction. Ajit Pawar has maintained that Parth was unaware the land purchased by the company belonged to the government.
# Pune Land Deal Drama: Bawankule Demands Answers on Rs 42 Cr Double Stamp Duty Twist – Is It Law or Loophole?
Pune's red-hot real estate scene just got a plot twist worthy of a Bollywood thriller. A controversial 40-acre government land deal in Mundhwa – snapped up for a suspiciously low Rs 300 crore by a firm linked to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's son, Parth Pawar – was already on the chopping block for cancellation. But now, enter the Revenue Department with a curveball: a Rs 42 crore double stamp duty notice to even execute the unwind. Maharashtra's Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule isn't buying it quietly; he's firing off demands for clarification from his own department, calling the levy a potential misstep in the labyrinth of stamp laws. As opposition heavyweights pile on accusations of favoritism and cover-ups, this saga exposes the tangled web of power, property, and procedural puzzles in India's bustling land markets. Buckle up – we're unpacking the latest chapter.
## The Deal That Sparked a Firestorm: From Bargain Buy to Backpedal
At the epicenter is Amadea Enterprises LLP, where 21-year-old Parth Pawar holds a 70% stake, alongside partners including a relative of Ajit Pawar. The firm acquired the prime Mundhwa plot – originally under the Pune APMC and valued at around Rs 1,800 crore on the open market – for just Rs 300 crore in a transaction riddled with red flags: a single power of attorney holder representing 272 "landowners," and whispers of undervaluation and skipped approvals.
The blowback was swift. Ajit Pawar, distancing his son (who claimed ignorance of the land's government ties), announced the deal's revocation last week. FIRs flew against key players like deed signatory Digvijay Patil and sub-registrar RB Taru for cheating and forgery, while officials were suspended and a high-level probe committee under Additional Chief Secretary Vikas Kharage was greenlit. Activist Anjali Damania ramped up the heat, demanding Pawar Sr.'s resignation and vowing court action if the inquiry drags.
## The Stamp Duty Stinger: Rs 42 Cr to Hit 'Undo'?
Cancellation should be straightforward, right? Not in Maharashtra's stamp duty maze. The Joint Inspector General of Registration slapped Amadea with a notice last Friday, insisting on double the original duty (pegged at Rs 21 crore) plus an extra 7% for the cancellation deed itself – totaling that eye-watering Rs 42 crore bill. The rationale? The initial transaction allegedly dodged proper valuation, triggering penalty provisions under the Maharashtra Stamp Act.
But Bawankule, the BJP minister helming Revenue, smells something off. "I will seek an explanation from the department on under which category this Rs 42 crore demand was made," he stated firmly on November 13, directing the Inspector General to review the notice's basis. He even huddled with Damania, urging her to channel evidence to the Kharage panel over litigation, in a bid to streamline the probe. Department insiders counter that the levy is "in accordance with law," but Bawankule's push hints at possible overreach – or at least a need for finer print-reading.
This isn't the first duty drama; the APMC had earlier sought a Rs 17.94 crore waiver on the original sale, fueling favoritism claims. Parth's name stays off the FIRs so far, but the family links keep the spotlight scorching.
## Political Powder Keg: Fadnavis in the Crosshairs?
The ruling Mahayuti coalition – BJP, Ajit Pawar's NCP, and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena – is feeling the heat from within and without. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve unleashed a blistering attack on CM Devendra Fadnavis, alleging he knew about the deal beforehand and leveraged it as a "control tool" over Pawar. "Fadnavis is sparing no effort to save Parth Pawar," Danve thundered, claiming Pawar offered to quit the cabinet and support from outside during a Varsha bungalow huddle.
Danve slammed Bawankule's clarification call as a "contradiction," demanding Parth's inclusion in cases, plus scrutiny of the district collector and revenue top brass. Ajit Pawar brushed it off: "The investigation is underway; truth will emerge." Meanwhile, Kharage – hailed by Bawankule as "incorruptible" – is expected to deliver findings soon, potentially reshaping alliances in this high-stakes game.
## Bigger Picture: Time for Land Law Overhaul?
This mess isn't isolated; it's symptomatic of Maharashtra's opaque land dealings, where government assets slip away undervalued amid procedural haze. With billions at stake, the double duty demand raises a thorny question: Is it justice or just another barrier to accountability? Bawankule's intervention could pave the way for tweaks, but critics like Danve see it as elite shielding.
For buyers and watchdogs alike, red flags abound: Always verify valuations independently, scrutinize power of attorneys, and demand transparency in public asset sales. Pune's boom shouldn't come at the cost of public trust.
As the Kharage probe barrels forward, will this lead to real reform or just more headlines? Bawankule's quest for clarity is a welcome step – but only if it uncovers the full story, not just footnotes.
Your thoughts on this property politics? Is the Rs 42 cr levy fair play, or a penalty too far? And should family ties disqualify from deals? Vent in the comments – let's keep the conversation (and accountability) rolling.
*Sources: Hindustan Times (Nov 13, 2025), The Week (Nov 13, 2025), Free Press Journal (Nov 13, 2025), Mid-Day (Nov 13, 2025), Times of India (Nov 12, 2025), UNI India (Nov 13, 2025), The Hindu (Nov 13, 2025), Business Standard (Nov 8, 2025), Outlook India (Nov 13, 2025)*
