A high-profile inquiry into the controversial ₹300-crore Mundhwa land deal in Pune has identified three individuals as directly responsible for irregularities in the transaction, while Parth Pawar, son of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has not been named in the findings. The development marks a significant chapter in the ongoing scrutiny of land sales linked to Amadea Enterprises LLP, a firm in which Parth holds a 99% stake and serves as one of the directors.

The Inquiry and Its Findings

The inquiry was conducted by a three-member committee led by Joint Inspector General of Registration (IGR) Rajendra Muthe, established to investigate the sale of a 40-acre government-owned land parcel to Amadea Enterprises. The committee concluded that Sheetal Tejwani, Digvijay Patil, and suspended sub-registrar Ravindra Taru played pivotal roles in facilitating the deal.

Tejwani and Patil, acting as power-of-attorney holders and partners of Amadea Enterprises, were directly involved in executing the sale and registering the deed at the Bavdhan sub-registrar office. Taru, then the sub-registrar, oversaw the registration process, which the committee found irregular given the land’s government ownership and the discrepancies in stamp duty payment.

Despite Parth Pawar’s prominent role in Amadea Enterprises, the committee did not name him, noting that he was not a signatory to any documents related to the transaction. While the inquiry scrutinized the company and its executives, it recognized the difficulty of linking Parth directly to the procedural violations in the absence of his signature on any official paperwork.

Alleged Irregularities in the Deal

The Mundhwa land, classified as watan land, cannot legally be sold, transferred, or mortgaged without prior government approval. The inquiry report highlighted several irregularities in the sale:

• Undervaluation of land: The company reportedly acquired the prime 40-acre parcel at a value significantly below market rate.
• Stamp duty exemptions: Amadea Enterprises claimed a 5% stamp duty waiver through a Letter of Intent, while the remaining 2% duty was not paid, yet the sale deed was registered.
• Power-of-attorney execution: The registration was completed by Tejwani and Digvijay Patil acting on behalf of the company, circumventing proper verification of ownership and compliance.

The report emphasized that the transaction triggered significant procedural lapses and mismanagement within the registration office, underscoring the need for stricter controls in the registration of government-owned land.

Procedural Safeguards and Recommendations

Muthe’s panel made several recommendations aimed at strengthening the land registration framework and preventing recurrence of such irregularities. Key recommendations include:

• Any stamp duty waiver must be vetted and approved by the collector (stamp).
• Under Section 18K of the Registration Act, 1908, registration should only proceed when a 7/12 extract no older than one month is submitted along with all documents establishing ownership.
• The committee suggested expanding safeguards from the April 2025 notification, which currently prohibits sub-registrars from registering government-owned properties, to cover cases where government ownership is suspected or uncertain, not just conclusively established.

The inquiry findings also call attention to potential vulnerabilities in the registration system that allow transactions to proceed even in the presence of ownership ambiguities, a loophole that the panel recommends closing.

Legal and Political Implications

The Mundhwa land deal became a matter of public scrutiny in August 2025, when it was revealed that Amadea Enterprises LLP had been exempted from paying ₹21 crore in stamp duty. The deal’s scale and the involvement of high-profile individuals, including a close relative of the deputy chief minister, sparked political controversy in Maharashtra.

Two FIRs have been registered in connection with the deal:

1. At Bavdhan police station, against an Amadea Enterprises partner, intermediaries, and suspended sub-registrar Taru for allegedly misleading authorities and executing a fraudulent sale deed.
2. At Khadak police station, following the revenue department’s discovery of manipulated land records and suppression of government ownership during registration.

Notably, no FIR has been filed against Parth Pawar, consistent with the committee’s observation that his name does not appear on the official sale documents. Nevertheless, Amadea Enterprises has been given seven days to respond to notices demanding ₹42 crore in unpaid dues and potential cancellation of the stamp duty waiver.

Political Fallout and Administrative Review

The transaction had triggered a political storm, prompting Deputy CM Ajit Pawar to assert that he was unaware of the deal and that it would be cancelled. The inquiry report has been submitted to IGR Ravindra Binwade, who has forwarded it to Divisional Commissioner Chandrakant Pulkundwar. Two additional reports—by the revenue department and the settlement commissioner—are expected soon.

All three reports will be reviewed by Additional Chief Secretary Vikas Kharage, who heads the six-member committee constituted by the chief minister to probe the Mundhwa land deal. A senior official involved in the inquiry noted that the findings clearly establish the roles of those who executed and processed the sale, but the absence of Parth Pawar’s name on official records made it impossible to directly link him to the irregularities.

Broader Lessons

The Muthe panel’s report also emphasizes systemic issues in land transactions involving government property:

• Due diligence gaps: There is a need for stricter verification of ownership and compliance before registration.
• Oversight weaknesses: Sub-registrars currently enjoy broad discretion that may facilitate procedural lapses.
• Financial accountability: Waivers and exemptions must undergo rigorous scrutiny to prevent misuse.

The committee’s recommendations, if implemented, could strengthen governance in land transactions and reduce the risk of similar controversies in the future.

Conclusion

While the Mundhwa land deal continues to attract public and political attention, the inquiry has made it clear that the primary responsibility lies with those who executed and processed the transaction, rather than shareholders or directors not directly involved in signing documents. With Amadea Enterprises under notice for unpaid dues and potential cancellation of stamp duty benefits, and further reports pending from government departments, the case is expected to remain under close scrutiny in the coming weeks.

The inquiry underscores the importance of procedural integrity, government oversight, and adherence to legal safeguards in land registration, particularly for government-owned properties, while highlighting the challenges of linking corporate stakeholders to operational irregularities in complex transactions.