Big relief for Ajit Pawar as tax department clears seized assets in Benami case
Mumbai: In a significant relief for Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, the Income Tax department has cleared assets worth over ₹1,000 crore that were seized in 2021. This decision came after the Prevention of Benami Property Transactions Appellate Tribunal dismissed the charges that Pawar and his family owned benami properties.
The ruling, which came just a day after Ajit Pawar took oath as Deputy Chief Minister, followed a series of raids conducted by the Income Tax department on October 7, 2021. The raids were linked to allegations of benami assets, leading to the attachment of several properties, including a sugar factory in Satara, a flat in Delhi, and a resort in Goa.
However, the investigation revealed that none of these properties were registered in Ajit Pawar's name. The tribunal, citing insufficient evidence, rejected the charges and affirmed that the properties were acquired through legitimate financial routes. It also noted that the I-T department failed to establish any connection between the Pawar family and the benami properties.
"There is no evidence to suggest that Ajit Pawar or his family transferred funds to acquire benami properties," the tribunal stated.
Ajit Pawar’s legal representative, Advocate Prashant Patil, maintained that the allegations lacked legal merit and that the family’s property transactions were conducted through proper channels, including the banking system. Patil emphasised that the records showed no irregularities in the transactions.
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Defamatory post against Dharmasthala Veerendra Heggade: Case registered against Girish Mattannavar
Belthangady: A case has been registered at Dharmasthala police station against Girish Mattannavar over a complaint regarding alleged defamatory posts on social media against Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala.
The complaint was filed by Subrahmanya Prasad, a resident of Dharmasthala.
The complainant stated that Mattannavar posted content on Instagram making allegations against Dr. Heggade and allegedly affecting his reputation.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered under Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which is related to spreading false information, rumours, or alarming news, on April 18, and the investigation is in progress.
Following information about Mattannavar’s appearance at the SIT office on May 7, a police officer from Dharmasthala police station issued a notice directing him to appear at the station within a week.
