Daijiworld Media Network - Pune

Pune, Dec 13: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday said officials responsible for registering property documents should have refused to process agreements that were not legally permissible and must have clearly informed the parties about such restrictions.

His remarks come amid controversy surrounding a land deal involving Amadea Enterprises LLP, a firm in which his son Parth Pawar holds a 99 per cent equity stake. The deputy registrar has issued a notice seeking Rs 21 crore in stamp duty and penalties from the firm in connection with the transaction.

Ajit Pawar’s statement follows sharp observations by the Bombay High Court, which recently questioned the manner in which the police investigation was conducted and hinted that authorities may have shielded Parth Pawar by not naming him in the FIR.

Reacting to criticism that a bill passed by the legislative assembly on Friday was intended to protect his son, Pawar said the fault lay squarely with the officials who registered the documents. The amendment empowers the revenue minister to conduct hearings in disputed cases related to the Inspector General of Registration (IGR).

“The officials who accepted the documents for registration should have refused to register them. They should have clearly told the parties that such agreements cannot be processed under the law,” Pawar said.

When asked about allegations that the amendment was brought to shield Parth Pawar, Ajit Pawar said elected representatives have the authority to take decisions and make amendments as they deem appropriate. “People have elected us, and we are free to take decisions or make changes that we find suitable,” he said.

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule earlier said that under the previous system, complainants unhappy with IGR decisions had to approach the High Court. The amendment now allows them to seek redress directly from the revenue minister, who can hold hearings in such cases. He added that several transactions had caused financial losses to the state, making a stronger grievance redressal mechanism necessary.

The controversy centres on the sale of 40 acres of land in Pune’s upscale Mundhwa area for Rs 300 crore to Amadea Enterprises LLP. It later emerged that the land belongs to the government and was not eligible for sale. The firm was also allegedly exempted from paying Rs 21 crore in stamp duty.

A committee led by the Joint Inspector General of Registration indicted Digvijay Patil, Parth Pawar’s business partner and cousin, Sheetal Tejwani, who held power of attorney for the land sellers, and sub-registrar Ravindra Taru. They were named in an FIR registered in Pune. Parth Pawar was not named, with officials stating that his name did not appear on any of the documents.