THE Bombay High Court on Wednesday raised sharp questions regarding the police probe into a controversial Pune land deal, suggesting authorities might be shielding Parth Pawar, son of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, by failing to name him in the FIR. A single judge bench of Justice Madhav Jamdar posed the searching question to the prosecution while hearing the pre-arrest bail plea of businesswoman Sheetal Tejwani, an accused in the case.

 

Noting that Parth Pawar, a majority partner in the firm involved, was omitted from the FIR, Justice Jamdar asked directly, “Is the police protecting the son of the Deputy Chief Minister and only investigating others?” Public Prosecutor Mankunwar Deshmukh said the police investigating the case will take necessary action as per the law. The sale of 40 acres of land in Pune’s upscale Mundhwa area for Rs 300 crore to Amadea Enterprises LLP, in which Parth Pawar is a majority partner, came under scrutiny after it emerged that the plot belongs to the Government and it could not be sold. The firm was also allegedly exempted from paying Rs 21 crore in stamp duty. A committee headed by the Joint Inspector General of Registration (IGR) had indicted Digvijay Patil (Parth Pawar’s business partner and cousin), Sheetal Tejwani (who held the power of attorney on behalf of the land sellers), and sub-registrar Ravindra Taru.

 

They were named in an FIR registered at a police station in Pune. Parth Pawar was not named as his name didn’t appear on any document, a senior official had said. Tejwani was arrested on December 3 by the Economic Offences Wing of Pune Police. She is in police custody till December 11. A second FIR was registered against her at Bavdhan police station in the same case, prompting her to file an anticipatory bail plea. Tejwani’s counsel, Rajiv Chavan, and advocate Ajay Bhise, argued that it was the second FIR, even as the investigation was underway by the EOW of Pune Police.

 

Public Prosecutor Deshmukh said that since Tejwani had filed a pre-arrest bail plea before the concerned sessions court, seeking similar relief from the High Court is an abuse of the process of law. When the bench expressed its inclination not to entertain the plea, Tejwani’s advocates withdrew the petition. In her plea, Tejwani stated that the land deal was a bona fide registered sale transaction. The case doesn’t disclose the essential ingredients of any cognisable offence or “Mens rea” (the intention or knowledge of wrongdoing) on her part, as she had acted only as a duly constituted holder of Power of Attorney for the lawful owners, it stated. The same transaction and documents are already under investigation by the Economic Offences Wing, making the second FIR duplicative and oppressive, the petition said.

 

 

MAHARASHTRA Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said that from the very beginning, the Government’s stand in the Pune land deal case, involving a firm linked to Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s son Parth, was not to protect anyone, and assured that action will be taken against whoever is found guilty. He was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme here. Fadnavis said, “I have not heard what the HC has said, but a proper reply will be submitted in the court about what it has asked for.” From the very beginning, the Government’s stand is not to protect anyone. And action will be taken against whomever is guilty. Hence, complete information about the action taken so far and the action that will be taken in future will be given to the HC.”