Explained: What happened in the Pune land scam involving Ajit Pawar’s son? Detailed timeline

A 40‑acre plot in Pune reserved for Dalit Mahar community sold to his son’s firm for approximately Rs 300 crore despite a market valuation near Rs 1,800 crore and a mere Rs 500 stamp duty payment, so what precisely went wrong?

Pune: In a startling twist that has stirred Maharashtra’s political waters, a 40‑acre parcel of government‑reserved land in Pune, allegedly worth around Rs 1,800 crore, was sold for just Rs 300 crore to a firm linked to Parth Pawar, son of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Adding fuel to the controversy: the transaction attracted only a Rs 500 stamp‑duty payment and the plot in question falls under the “Mahar Watan” category meant exclusively for Dalit ownership. This has prompted accusations of land theft and regulatory collusion, leaving the Pawar family and government under intense scrutiny.

The Maharashtra Registration and Stamp Duty Department has served a notice on Amadea Enterprises LLP (linked to Parth Pawar), demanding about Rs 43 crore in unpaid stamp duty and associated penalties.

What is the Allegation?

The plot of land in Pune’s upscale Mundhwa/Koregaon Park area is classified as Mahar Watan land, a category reserved for the Mahar Scheduled Caste community under the Bombay Inferior Village Watans Abolition Act of 1958. Such land cannot legally be sold without high‑level government approval, yet the ownership appears to have shifted into private hands.

The company in question, Amadea Enterprises LLP (in which Parth Pawar and his cousin Digvijay Patil are partners), reportedly bought the land for Rs 300 crore, despite its valuation ranging up to Rs 1,800 crore. The regulatory concerns intensify given the stamp duty for the transaction was apparently set at a mere Rs 500 instead of the expected multi‑crore sum.

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Government & Political Response

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the issue as “serious” and ordered a full‑scale investigation. Key revenue officials, including a sub‑registrar and tehsildar, have been suspended for alleged misuse of power and failure to scrutinise the deal.

Ajit Pawar has publicly denied his involvement, stating his son did not consult legal advisers or him before proceeding, and that the deed is now cancelled. He added the firm must regularise its position by paying the requisite duties.

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Stakes and Political Fallout

The series of alleged irregularities, reserved‑land sale, gross undervaluation, stamp duty waiver—hits at the heart of citizen trust and governance standards. Opposition parties claim this is a case of “land theft” by the powerful, and are demanding Ajit Pawar’s resignation and full accountability.

For the state government, which includes the Pawar faction as a key ally, the scandal poses a major reputational risk. It underlines concerns about how politically connected individuals may gain unfair advantage over statutory processes.

Pune Land Scam timeline

Date	Event
Early 2024	A firm, Amadea Enterprises LLP (also reported as Amedia LLP), in which Parth Pawar is a partner, enters a deal for a 40‑acre plot in Mundhwa/Koregaon Park area of Pune, classified as “Mahar Watan” land reserved for the Mahar (Scheduled Caste) community.
April 2025	Documents show the firm claims to develop a data‑centre or IT facility on the site and obtains registration of the deed with unusually low stamp‑duty payment (reported at around Rs 500) despite the estimated market value being nearly Rs 1,800 crore.
November 6 2025	Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis orders a probe into the deal, calling it “prima facie serious”. A sub‑registrar is suspended and a high‑level committee is formed under the Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) to investigate.
November 7 2025	Ajit Pawar states the deal has been cancelled, says his son and the partner were unaware the land was government‑owned, and an FIR has been lodged. He also stresses no rupee has changed hands.
November 8–9 2025	The Revenue Department issues a notice to the firm demanding around Rs 42–43 crore in stamp‑duty and penalties to regularise the cancellation of the sale deed. Tehsildar and other officials are suspended.

What Happens Next?

A high‑level committee led by the Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Vikas Kharge has been formed. Among its tasks:

• Quantify the loss to the exchequer and track whether procedure was breached.
• Determine whether the stamp duty exemption was legally warranted and how the transaction slipped through due process.
• Recommend reforms to prevent misuse of reserved land status and ensure transparency in high‑value property transfers.

Meanwhile, the firm now faces a demand to pay around Rs 42 crore in double stamp duty to regularise the cancellation process, indicating the state’s attempt to claw back revenue.

Broader Implications

This case highlights systemic issues: the vulnerability of reserved‑status land to misuse, the gap in regulatory oversight for deals involving politically influential persons, and the perception of two‑tier accountability, one for regular citizens, another for the powerful.

If the inquiry finds misconduct, this could lead to criminal charges, resignations, and a larger reckoning on how land policy functions in Maharashtra.