Parth Pawar Land Row: Tehsildar Issues Illegal Eviction Notice to Botanical Survey of India

A suspended tehsildar's eviction notice to the Botanical Survey of India has raised concerns over a controversial land deal involving Parth Pawar. The Pune District Collector deemed the notice illegal amid allegations of irregularities in the sale.

Two months after a contentious land deal involving a firm linked to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's son, Parth, a tehsildar issued an eviction notice to the Botanical Survey of India (BSI). The notice, sent by Suryakant Yeole, claimed that Amadea Enterprises LLP had legally acquired the 40-acre property. However, Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi declared the notice illegal.

The land sale in Pune's Mundhwa area for Rs 300 crore is under scrutiny. Allegations suggest irregularities and missing clearances. The Opposition claims the land's market value is Rs 1,800 crore. Official documents reveal Amadea executed the sale deed on May 20. Six days later, they asked Yeole to vacate the land.

Land Ownership Dispute

On June 9, Yeole informed BSI that their lease had ended due to a "re-grant" clause. "We inform you that on December 20, 2024, the original landowners duly deposited the occupancy price. Consequently, it is appropriate and necessary for your office to formally notify the Botanical Survey of India, Pune, directing it to vacate the land immediately, as the lease agreement now stands terminated," stated Yeole's notice.

The BSI originally leased the land in 1973 for 15 years. It was extended for 50 years from 1988 with an annual rent of Re 1. Yeole updated the Sub-Divisional Officer on July 14 about his communication with BSI regarding lease termination. This prompted a BSI team to meet Collector Dudi.

Administrative Intervention

Dudi said the district administration intervened and stopped Yeole from further action. An inquiry into Yeole's actions in the Mundhwa case was initiated. He explained that Yeole acted on claims by original 'watandars'—272 'owners'—who alleged they paid an "occupancy price" via demand drafts.

Amadea executed the deal with Shital Tejwani representing these owners through power of attorney. "However, the entire process of issuing an eviction notice was illegal. I wrote to the sub-divisional magistrate SDM and asked him to take necessary action, and the process of eviction and physical handover of the land to Amadea Enterprises LLP did not take place," said Dudi.

Legal Complications

A lease clause states if re-granted by the government, it must be honoured. Dudi noted these 'landowners' misinterpreted this clause, claiming ownership after paying money to reclaim it. But scrutiny showed no demand drafts were submitted.

Dudi highlighted a defined process for re-granting government land. "Tehsildar Yeole should have understood the process and acted accordingly. Since his actions were wrong, an inquiry was initiated, and the entire process was stalled," he said.

Ongoing Investigations

Despite a sale deed with waived Rs 21 crore stamp duty, the land remains government-owned. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar stated that Parth was unaware of its government status and that the deal was scrapped.

An FIR was filed against Digvijay Patil, Shital Tejwani, and suspended sub-registrar R B Taru for alleged misappropriation and cheating based on a complaint by the Inspector General of Registrars office.

With inputs from PTI