The political ripple effects from the Pune land deal controversy deepened today as Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) veteran Sharad Pawar publicly separated himself from the mounting crisis facing his grand-nephew, Parth Pawar, son of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Addressing the media regarding the allegations of corruption and procedural violations, Sharad Pawar emphasized a clear distinction between his personal and political life.
Sharad Pawar: “Family and politics are different for me. What [my daughter] Supriya [Sule] said is her individual view.”
The remarks come shortly after NCP MP Supriya Sule publicly defended her nephew amid the escalating political row. When questioned why no First Information Report (FIR) had been filed directly against Parth Pawar—despite his firm’s involvement—Sharad Pawar simply stated, “Only Devendra Fadnavis can say.”
Probe Ordered into ₹1,800 Crore Land Deal
The controversy centers on a 40-acre plot in Mundhwa, Pune, near the upscale Koregaon Park area, which has an estimated market value of around ₹1,800 crore.
On Thursday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the transaction. The plot was allegedly sold to Amedea Enterprises LLP, a company in which Parth Pawar is a partner, for a significantly lower price of ₹300 crore.
The probe will specifically examine:
- Allegations that the land was illegally transferred, as it is reportedly government-owned Mahar Watan land (traditional community-assigned property that requires prior government approval for sale).
- Claims that the transaction involved an improper stamp duty waiver worth ₹21 crore.
Ajit Pawar Denies Political Influence
Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has also dismissed all accusations of wrongdoing and has strongly attempted to distance himself from his son’s business dealings, asserting that his children conduct their own business independently.
Ajit Pawar: “I am not even remotely connected to this land deal. I will not tolerate any wrongdoing. I will analyze the details of the case personally.”
Both Ajit Pawar and Parth Pawar, who is a partner in Amedea Enterprises, have maintained that the transaction adhered to all legal requirements. The political opposition, however, continues to press for a judicial inquiry, alleging that the deal could not have been executed without political influence.