31 March,2026 01:38 PM IST | Jalgaon | mid-day online correspondent
Eknath Khadse has denied the allegations against him. File Pic
Senior Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (SP) leader Eknath Khadse, along with his daughter Sharda Khadse, has been booked by police in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district for allegedly cheating an elderly woman and unlawfully taking possession of her land using forged documents, officials said, reported the PTI.
According to police, the land in question was classified as âMahar Watan' - a category of âinam' land historically granted to members of the Mahar community (now classified under Scheduled Castes) in recognition of hereditary village services. Authorities alleged that illegal possession of the land was secured in the name of Khadse's daughter from an 82-year-old woman, the news agency reported.
The alleged fraud came to light after the complainant, Chamelibai Tukaram Tayade, lodged a formal complaint on March 9 with the Jalgaon district Superintendent of Police.
She accused Khadse, his daughter, and certain government officials of wrongdoing in connection with the land transaction.
Following the complaint, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Jalgaon police conducted a preliminary inquiry into transactions spanning from 2002 to 2025. Based on its findings, a case was registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to cheating, fraud, and forgery, as well as under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, as the complainant belongs to a Dalit community, as per the PTI.
According to the PTI, as per the FIR, Khadse allegedly assured the victim and her family in 2002 that a sugar factory would be established on their âMahar Watan' land located at Manpur Shivar in Jalgaon district. He reportedly promised compensation and employment opportunities to family members.
Police stated that an initial payment of Rs 51,000 was made to the victim, along with assurances that each family member would receive Rs 1 lakh from the proposed project's management.
However, the complainant later discovered in 2025 that no sugar factory had been set up on the land. Instead, Khadse had established a company, Tapi-Purna Sugar Allied Industries Ltd, for the project and allegedly took possession of the land by manipulating official documents, the news agency reported.
Investigators claim that sale agreements were altered and the land was transferred to his daughter's name without proper authorisation. The FIR further alleges that the accused conspired to exploit the victim's illiteracy and lack of awareness to gain control over the property over a prolonged period.
The case was initially registered at Bodwad Police Station and has since been transferred to the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) in Muktai Nagar for further investigation. As per legal provisions, cases involving alleged wrongful occupation of land belonging to SC/ST individuals must be probed by an officer of at least Deputy Superintendent rank, reported the PTI.
Responding to the allegations, Khadse denied any involvement in the land deal and described the case as politically motivated. He stated that the transaction had taken place decades ago and questioned the timing of the complaint.
Notably, Khadse had previously served as a senior minister in the BJP-led Maharashtra government between 2014 and 2019. He resigned from the cabinet in 2016 following allegations of misusing his position to facilitate the purchase of state-owned land in Pune's Bhosari industrial area by his family members.
(with PTI inputs)
