Pawar Firm Stung with ₹84 Crore Stamp Duty Bill for Canceled Land Deal

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A Maharashtra government land deal involving Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's son Parth has turned sour for Amadea Enterprises, a firm co-owned by Parth and his cousin Digvijay Patil. The company, which purchased 40 acres of prime land in Pune for ₹300 crore, will have to pay double the stamp duty for canceling the deal. According to the Department of Registration and Stamps, Amadea Enterprises initially sought a stamp duty exemption by claiming it would set up a data center on the land. However, after the deal came under scrutiny, it was revealed that this plan had been dropped. As a result, the firm will have to pay the original 7% stamp duty (5% under the Maharashtra Stamp Act, 1% Local Body Tax, and 1% Metro Cess) of ₹21 crore, plus an additional 7% stamp duty of ₹21 crore for canceling the deal. This totals ₹42 crore. The deal had raised eyebrows, as the land was valued at ₹1,800 crore. Opposition leaders alleged misappropriation and cheating, leading to a police complaint. Ajit Pawar claimed his son was unaware of the land's status and that the deal has now been canceled. Joint Sub Registrar A P Fulaware ordered the firm to pay the stamp duty and penalty to execute the cancellation deed. The deed will only be canceled once the stamp duty is paid. Amadea Enterprises entered into an agreement with a power of attorney representing 272 alleged land owners and executed the sale deed in May this year. However, it was later revealed that the land belonged to the government, and the firm had allegedly colluded with a sub-registrar to waive the stamp duty. The Joint Inspector General of Stamps and Registration, Rajendra Muthe, confirmed that the firm will have to pay the original stamp duty and an additional 7% for canceling the deal. The proposal for a data center exemption was rejected, and the firm must now pay the original stamp duty and penalty.