The Pune land deal controversy involving Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s son Parth Pawar has taken a new turn, with officials confirming that Amadea Enterprises LLP — the firm co-owned by Parth and his cousin Digvijay Amarsinh Patil — will now have to pay double stamp duty amounting to ₹42 crore to cancel the sale deed.
According to the Department of Registration and Stamps, the company must pay the original 7% stamp duty (5% under the Maharashtra Stamp Act, 1% Local Body Tax, and 1% Metro Cess) that was waived earlier, as well as an additional 7% duty to execute the cancellation deed. Officials stated that the exemption was granted after Amadea claimed it was setting up a data centre on the land, but the cancellation deed now clarifies that the plan has been dropped.
The disputed land spans 40 acres in Pune’s upscale Mundhwa area and was purchased for ₹300 crore. Opposition leaders have alleged that the actual market value of the land was ₹1,800 crore, sparking demands for a full probe. The sale deed, executed in May this year, came under scrutiny after it was revealed that the land belonged to the Maharashtra government and that the stamp duty had allegedly been waived in collusion with a sub-registrar.
Following an internal inquiry, the Pimpri Chinchwad Police registered an FIR against Digvijay Patil, Shital Tejwani (who represented 272 landowners via power of attorney), and sub-registrar R. B. Taru for misappropriation and cheating.
Ajit Pawar, addressing the controversy on Friday, stated that his son Parth was unaware the land was government-owned, adding that the ₹300 crore deal had been cancelled. “If any irregularities are found, due process will follow,” he said.
Joint Sub-Registrar A. P. Fulaware confirmed in his order that the deficit stamp duty and penalty must be deposited with the Stamps Collector, Pune City, before the cancellation is processed. “The cancellation deed will only be executed after full payment of the required duties,” the official noted.
Joint Inspector General of Stamps and Registration Rajendra Muthe further explained that the earlier exemption claim under the pretext of establishing a data centre was invalid. “Upon scrutiny, it was found that such exemption cannot be granted. Hence, the firm must pay 7% stamp duty for the sale deed and another 7% for its cancellation,” he said.
The total payable stamp duty now stands at ₹42 crore, marking another major development in what has become one of Maharashtra’s most high-profile land deal controversies in recent months.
