Probe on, truth will surface soon: Ajit Pawar on land deal linked to son's firm
Pune (PTI): Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday said an inquiry has been initiated into the alleged illegal sale of a government land to his son's company in Pune, and the truth will soon be revealed to the public.
Speaking to reporters at Baramati in Pune district, the NCP chief also said that if his close associates or relatives invoke his name and make any statements that violate the rules, the authorities must take appropriate action.
Questions have been raised about the sale of 40 acres of land in Pune's upscale Mundhwa area for Rs 300 crore to a company in which Ajit Pawar's son Parth Pawar is a partner. Two First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered in the case, though Parth Pawar is not named in them.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said action in the Pune land deal case is being taken as per law and there is no question of saving anybody.
Asked about the land deal issue, Ajit Pawar on Sunday said, "I have already presented my stand clearly on various issues ongoing over the past few days. An inquiry has begun and the truth will soon come before the public."
"I still don't understand how a document can be registered without even a transaction of one rupee? We'll know within a month why the person who carried out this registration actually did it," the NCP leader said.
He further said Chief Minister Fadnavis has appointed the inquiry committee.
"Earlier too, allegations of (irregularities of) Rs 70,000 crore were made against me, it's been 15 to 16 years since then. Whenever there are elections, multiple accusations are made against us. We try to work transparently, but as soon as we do, people start digging up and alleging against random land deals," he said.
"Even if my close workers or relatives use my name and say something, if it's not as per the rules, the officials concerned must act on it," he added.
Elections to various local bodies in the state are scheduled to be held on December 2.
The sale deed of the government land to Amadea Enterprises has come under the scanner for want of the required clearances. Opposition leaders alleged that its market value was Rs 1,800 crore, and it could not have been sold without the government's permission.
FIRs have been filed against signatories and vendors and those found guilty in the probe will be booked, Fadnavis said, when asked about the First Information Report not naming Parth.
Ajit Pawar has announced that the sale deed executed by his son Parth’s firm for the prime land in Pune has been scrapped, even as officials said the company will have to cough up double the stamp duty, which comes to Rs 42 crore, to get the transaction cancelled.
Based on a complaint filed by the Inspector General of Registrar's office, the Pimpri Chinchwad police have registered an FIR against Digvijay Patil, Shital Tejwani (who represented the 272 'owners' of the land through the power of attorney), and sub-registrar R B Taru for alleged misappropriation and cheating.
Ajit Pawar has claimed Parth was unaware that the land purchased by his firm belonged to the government.
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
