Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve alleged that the govt was making every possible effort to shield the Pawar father-son duo and demanded that no leniency be shown towards Parth, insisting that a criminal case be registered against him
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve further claimed that the government was leaving “no stone unturned” to save Ajit and Parth Pawar. File Pic
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve on Thursday accused Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of protecting Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s son, Parth Pawar, who is at the centre of the now-scrapped Rs 300-crore controversial Pune land deal, reported the PTI.
Danve alleged that the government was making every possible effort to shield the Pawar father-son duo and demanded that no leniency be shown towards Parth, insisting that a criminal case be registered against him.
According to Danve, after the land deal controversy erupted, Ajit Pawar — who heads the ruling Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction — had even offered to step out of the government.
“I heard that during a meeting at ‘Varsha’ (the Chief Minister’s official residence in Mumbai), Ajit Pawar angrily offered to withdraw from the government and provide outside support,” Danve claimed, according to the PTI.
The deal in question concerns the sale of 40 acres of government land in Pune’s upmarket Mundhwa area for Rs 300 crore to Amadea Enterprises LLP, in which Parth Pawar is a majority partner. The transaction has come under scrutiny for alleged irregularities and lack of necessary clearances. The Opposition has claimed that the land’s actual market value was around Rs 1,800 crore, as per the PTI.
Facing criticism, Ajit Pawar announced last week that the sale deed executed by Parth’s company had been scrapped, asserting that his son was unaware the land purchased by the firm belonged to the government.
Speaking to reporters in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Danve alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was already aware of the land deal and intended to use it against its ally, the NCP, at a later stage.
“The BJP knew about this case earlier and was preparing the file. If anything goes wrong, Parth Pawar can be arrested in a minute. It is a criminal mentality to use such tactics to control political figures,” he said, the news agency reported.
Danve further claimed that the government was leaving “no stone unturned” to save Ajit and Parth Pawar.
“Parth Pawar should not be treated leniently. He is not a child. He has even contested Lok Sabha elections. He should be treated as a criminal, and a case should be registered against him,” the former Leader of Opposition in the state legislative council said, reported the PTI.
He also alleged that CM Fadnavis was personally intervening in the case to protect Parth.
“Parth Pawar cannot be saved without the direct intervention of the Chief Minister,” Danve asserted.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader further highlighted a contradiction between the stance of the state revenue department and that of Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule regarding the payment of stamp duty related to the land deal.
Bawankule had said on Wednesday that he would seek clarification over a notice demanding a double stamp duty payment of Rs 42 crore from Amadea Enterprises, even though the land sale was being cancelled.
The Joint Inspector General of Registration issued a notice to the firm last Friday, directing it to pay the double stamp duty before the cancellation deed could be processed.
“Action is warranted due to unpaid stamp duty. Officials maintain that the duty must be paid even to cancel the transaction,” Danve said, describing the revenue minister’s stance as “completely wrong”, as per the PTI.
He also called for the inclusion of the district collector and revenue department officials in the ongoing inquiry.
(with PTI inputs)
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