Mundhwa land deal: Parth Pawar's strong appeal against stamp duty and Rs 21 cr fine; hearing from February 16 onwards

2 minutes of readingFebruary 11, 2026 09:31 am

Parth Pawar’s Amadea Enterprises LLP has appealed against the stamp duty of Rs 21 crore plus a delay fine on its controversial purchase of a 44-acre land parcel in Pune’s Mundhwa. The appeal was filed last week and the hearing is scheduled for February 16 onwards, Dharmadev Mainkar, Deputy Inspector General of Registration and Comptroller of Stamps (DIG), Pune, told The Indian Express.

The Rs 300 million transaction for the 44-acre land took place in May, but a stamp duty of only Rs 500 was paid instead of the expected amount of Rs 21 million. The appeal is against the December 10 decision of the District Joint Registrar to impose full stamp duty and a late penalty. The appeal has been filed with the General Inspectorate of Stamp Registration and Comptroller (IGR).

“There could be more hearings after the first one if extensions are sought. After the final hearing, it takes one or two months to take a decision,” Mainkar said, adding that the department had 4,000 such cases pending. He also clarified that the previous decision remains in force until the appellate authority issues a suspension or revokes it.

In December, an official told The indian express that in addition to the 7 per cent stamp duty (Rs 21 million), a monthly penalty of 1 per cent was also levied from May for late payment. This original grant awarded in May was allegedly based on a letter of intent from the CEO of Pune District Industries Center. Tehsildar Suryakant Yewale and sub-registrar Ravindra Taru have been suspended over the transaction and Taru was even arrested by the Pune police.

The land transaction was carried out between Amadea Enterprises LLP, a firm in which Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar’s son Parth Pawar is a director, and Sheetaj Tejwani, who had a power of attorney on behalf of the original 272 watandars of the Mahar Watan land. To make matters worse, the land was actually in the possession of the state government, which had leased it to the Botanical Survey of India, which currently operates a conservation garden there. Sheetaj Tejwani has also been arrested by the Pune police.

Soham Shah is a correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Pune. A journalism graduate with experience in fact-checking, he brings a meticulous, research-oriented approach to his current reporting. Professional Experience Role: Correspondent covering education and urban affairs in Pune. Specialization: Its main objective is education, but it also maintains a strong focus on civic issues, public health, human rights and state policy. Key Strength: Soham focuses on data-driven reporting on school and college education, government reporting, and public infrastructure. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Their late 2025 work highlights a transition from education-focused reporting to hard-hitting investigative and human rights stories: 1. Investigations and Governance “Express Impact: Mother’s name now a must for downloading birth certificate from PMC site” (December 20, 2025) – Reports on a significant policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following its reports previous statements on the inclusion of gender in administrative documents. “44-acre Mahar land controversy: In June, a Pune official sought land eviction at the firm behest of Pawar’s son” (November 9, 2025) – An investigative article on real estate irregularities involving high-profile political families. 2. Education and University Life Faculty crisis at SPPU affects research and administrative work: 62% of government approved posts are vacant, more than 75% in many departments (September 12, 2025) – A research paper on faculty vacancies at Savitribai Phule Pune University. “Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why the National Curriculum Framework recommends a Class 6 third language” (July 2) – This in-depth article discusses the reasons behind why the state’s decision to introduce a Class 1 third language was controversial. “Decline in number of schools and teachers in Maharashtra but increase in student enrollment: Report” (January 2025): Analysis of discrepancies in state’s education data despite increase in the number of students. 3. Human Rights and Social Issues “Aanchal Mamidawar Was Brave After Her Family Killed Her Boyfriend” (December 17, 2025) – A deeply personal and hard-hitting article/opinion column on the “crime of love” and honor killings in modern India. “‘People don’t respect the disabled’: Meet the man who has become the face of racist attacks against Indians” (November 29, 2025) – Profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became the target of global online bullying, highlighting issues of disability and cyberbullying. Distinctive style Soham is known for his vision of civil liberties. His reporting frequently champions the rights of the marginalized, whether students fighting for university democracy, victims of regressive social practices, or residents fighting crumbling urban infrastructure (as seen in his contributions to “Breathless Pune”). He is adept at linking Pune’s hyperlocal issues to broader national conversations about law and freedom. X (Twitter): @SohamShah07 …Read more

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