'I have no connection': Ajit Pawar breaks silence on son's Rs 300-cr land deal row; Fadnavis orders probe

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday distanced himself from the Pune land deal controversy involving a company linked to his son Parth Pawar, saying he has “no connection” with the issue and "won’t tolerate any wrongdoing.

"Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Pawar said, “I am not even remotely connected to this (land deal). I only want to say that whatever reports are being run are not known to me. I have no connection with the issue. I had already clarified that I will not tolerate any wrongdoing. I will analyse the details of the case personally. I have never called any officer to benefit any of our relatives or any party worker.”He added, “If anyone is doing wrong or against the set norms, I will never support them.

I wish to make clear to officers that I won’t support any wrong actions by anyone citing my name to get their work done. When your children grow up, they do their own business.”The state government has formed an inquiry committee to probe the alleged irregularities in the land deal involving Amadea Enterprises, a company linked to Parth Pawar. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has appointed Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Vikas Kharge to head the probe panel.

The government also suspended a tehsildar and a sub-registrar in connection with the case after the Opposition claimed that land worth ₹1,800 crore was sold to the firm for just ₹300 crore.Pawar said, “The CM should definitely inquire into the matter and find the truth behind it. All the rules should be followed, and no one should flout the rules. Even those close to me are not allowed to surpass the rules.”Fadnavis termed the deal “prima facie serious,” while Ajit Pawar reiterated his denial of any involvement.

Parth Pawar has not yet responded to the allegations.According to officials, Amadea Enterprises allegedly purchased 40 acres of land in Pune’s Mundhwa area, which was classified as Mahar watan land, a hereditary category belonging to the Mahar (Scheduled Caste) community. Such land cannot be sold without prior government approval, and in this case, the stamp duty was reportedly waived.Officials noted that as the land is government property, it cannot legally be sold to a private entity. The controversy has prompted the Opposition to attack the ruling Mahayuti alliance of the BJP, Ajit Pawar’s NCP, and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.