3 minutes of readingPuneUpdated: February 6, 2026 03:36 pm IST
Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Thursday said the state government has extended by eight days the mandate of the five-member committee probing alleged irregularities in a Mundhwa land deal involving Parth Pawar, son of late deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.
The panel, headed by Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Vikas Kharge, had sought more time, citing the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls of Saturday, February 7. The committee’s current term expires Friday.
Bawankule also published reports claiming that Parth had been given a clean chit in the matter. “These reports are baseless. The committee has not even presented its findings yet. I will only be able to comment after receiving the report,” he said.
Bawankule added that the findings of another committee, set up by the comptroller of stamps and the inspector general of registration, will be combined with the report of the Kharge panel. The investigation is reportedly nearing completion and the final report will be submitted to the state government soon.
The controversial Mundhwa land deal involves 40 acres of land that fell under the ‘Mahar Watan’ category and was leased to the Botanical Survey of India. It was sold to Amadea Enterprises LLP, allegedly without mandatory approval from the state government and at a price much lower than the market value, with a stamp duty exemption. Digvijay Patil and Parth are partners at Amadea Enterprises LLP.
The investigation covers alleged failures in the documentation, valuation and conduct of the officials who registered the title of sale of the land.
The committee was formed in early November last year after the issue sparked a political storm. It was first asked to submit its report by Dec. 6, but the deadline was pushed back to Jan. 6 and then extended by another month after the panel asked for additional time to examine responses from various departments.
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In addition to Kharge, the committee includes Pune Divisional Commissioner Dr Chandrakant Pulkundawar, Pune Collector Jitendra Dudi, Land Registration Commissioner and Director of Land Records Dr Suhas Divase and Inspector General of Registration and Controller of Stamps Ravindra Binwada.
The repeated extensions have drawn criticism from activists. Talking to him indian expressRTI and anti-corruption activist Vijay Kumbhar expressed their displeasure. “Why do delays often occur, especially in cases involving political figures? Ideally, the formed committee should have submitted the report within the stipulated time. I think even after repeated extensions, the final report of the committee would be unlikely, naming Parth Pawar,” Kumbhar said.
Activist Anjali Damania had taken