PUNE, 4 DEC. The alleged land scam case linked to the Mundhwa area has taken a significant turn, with suspicion intensifying against Digvijay Patil, a partner associated with the Amedia company, and Parth Pawar, son of Nationalist Congress Party President and State Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

The Pune Police Economic Offences Wing (EOW) had recently issued a notice to Digvijay Patil for questioning, following which he appeared at the Pune Police Commissionerate on December 2. EOW officials conducted a detailed inquiry with him on various aspects of the case. During the interrogation, Patil assured the officials, "I will appear again if needed. I need to attend Jay Pawar's wedding abroad, so I will return for questioning after the wedding."

Meanwhile, preparations for the wedding of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's son, Jay Pawar, are underway in Bahrain, and Digvijay Patil is also expected to attend the ceremony. However, as a case has been registered against him at the Khadak Police Station, the investigation process could gain further momentum.

It is speculated that information gathered during the interrogation of Sheetal Tejvani, who has already been arrested in this case, could also increase the difficulties for Parth Pawar. According to available information, 99 percent of the share capital in the Amedia company is registered in Parth Pawar's name. It cannot be ruled out that the investigation will accelerate in the coming days. The Mundhwa land case thus signals a potentially worsening political climate within the Pawar family.

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PUNE, 4 DEC. The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has taken a major step following the severe waterlogging incidents witnessed during this year's monsoon at the Rajiv Gandhi IT Park in Hinjewadi. A survey confirmed that the problem was primarily caused by encroachment on natural waterways, prompting the MIDC to initiate remedial measures worth ₹125 crore.

Heavy rainfall on June 7 and 22 this year led to flood-like conditions on the roads of Phase-2 of the IT Park, exposing the poor state of the park's basic infrastructure. Preliminary investigation revealed that the waterlogging occurred because the natural water channels were either encroached upon, filled up, or diverted.

Subsequently, the MIDC appointed a private consulting firm to survey the natural water courses within the IT Park. This involved a drone survey to study the current carrying capacity of the waterways and the actual volume of water flow during the monsoon. The firm submitted its report to IIT-Mumbai for evaluation, and after the evaluation by IIT-Mumbai, the final report has now been submitted to the MIDC.

According to MIDC sources, a project blueprint has been prepared for long-term solutions to the flood situation in the IT Park. Under this plan, a 17.5-kilometer long network of rainwater drains will be constructed. Additionally, a separate canal will be built where water flowing from the hill slopes has been obstructed. In IT Park Phase-2, the road stretch from Wipro Circle to SEZ Circle sees significant water accumulation; in such spots, underground concrete drains (sub-way drainage) will be constructed. This will ensure that water flows directly into the river via the underground drains instead of collecting on the roads.

Key Measures to Prevent Flooding:

Rainwater drains will be constructed on both sides of the roads. A separate channel will be provided alongside the rainwater drains for utility cables. Underground concrete drains will be built at spots where water accumulates on the roads. A separate canal will be constructed for the water flowing down from the hill slopes. The goal is to ensure rainwater flows freely from the hill directly to the river without obstruction.

Proposed Construction Works:

Underground concrete drains will be built at Infosys Circle, Dohler Company Chowk, and on both sides of the Jawadekar Project. The total length of the rainwater drain network will be 17.5 kilometers. A separate canal, measuring 900 meters in length, will be constructed behind Raisoni Park, connecting to Quadrant Company in Phase-1 and DLF Company in Phase-3.

Executive Engineer of MIDC, Rajendra Totla, stated that based on the survey of natural waterways, remedial measures have been initiated to prevent waterlogging in the IT Park. In the first phase, underground drains will be built to prevent water from coming onto the roads. Following that, in the second phase, a separate canal will be constructed to carry water flowing from the hill slopes directly to the river.

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PUNE, 4 DEC. The impact of cold winds blowing from the north continues to keep the chill factor alive in parts of Central Maharashtra. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted that the minimum temperature in Pune and its surrounding areas will hover around 11 to 12 degrees Celsius until Sunday, December 7. Following this period, there are indications that the minimum temperature will decrease further, potentially reaching 10 degrees Celsius for two subsequent days starting from Monday, December 8.

The IMD noted that the cold wave persists in North India, and the influence of the cold northerly winds maintains the coolness across Central Maharashtra, Marathwada, and Vidarbha. The department has also predicted that the weather is likely to remain dry this week across Konkan-Goa, Central Maharashtra, Marathwada, and Vidarbha.

Minimum Temperatures Recorded in Parts of Pune:

The lowest minimum temperature in Pune was recorded at 9.7 degrees Celsius in the Haveli area. Other areas that recorded minimum temperatures below 12 degrees Celsius include Shivaji Nagar (11.5°C), Pashan and Talegaon (11.0°C), and Ambegaon (11.9°C). Furthermore, temperatures between 15 and 17 degrees Celsius were registered in Koregaon Park (15.3°C), Lavale (16.0°C), Chinchwad (15.4°C), Wadgaon Sheri (16.4°C), and Magarpatta (16.7°C).

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PUNE, 4 DEC. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is facing an uphill task as it processes a staggering 22,809 suggestions and objections submitted by citizens concerning errors in the draft electoral rolls for the forthcoming civic elections. This high volume of complaints comes after the civic body faced intense criticism, including protests from the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition, over significant anomalies in the lists published on November 20.

The Extent of the Errors

The main issues cited by citizens and political parties include multiple errors such as the inclusion of voters residing outside the PMC's limits, names being abruptly shifted to wards far from their actual residence, and a significant number of duplicate entries. Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram had earlier acknowledged the existence of approximately three lakh duplicate entries but noted that the PMC only has the power to ensure a voter casts their vote only once, not to delete such entries outright.

Ward-Wise Application Load

The State Election Commission (SEC) had to extend the deadline to submit these suggestions and objections until December 3 to accommodate the large number of complaints. The maximum number of submissions was received from the Sinhagad Road ward office area, totaling 6,308 applications, followed closely by the Nagar Road-Vadgaonsheri ward office with 5,617 applications. The civic administration is now under pressure to expedite the rectification process, with 9,863 objections filed on the final day alone.

The Correction Process

Prasad Katkar, the official in charge of the civic election department, confirmed that the PMC will consider all the applications seeking changes. Dedicated teams have been deployed across the 14 ward offices to conduct field visits and scrutinize the objections. After verification, relevant changes will be made directly, and in a few complex cases, a formal hearing will be conducted. The PMC is aiming to publish the final, corrected ward-wise and polling booth-wise electoral rolls in the next few days.

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PUNE, 4 DEC. A crucial hearing in the controversial Mundhwa land scam case is scheduled for tomorrow in Pune, with high anticipation surrounding the potential appearance of Digvijay Singh Patil, a key individual linked to the firm Amadea Enterprises LLP. The hearing relates to the alleged illegal transfer and sale of a 40-acre parcel of government-owned land in Mundhwa.

The Heart of the Controversy

The entire controversy centers on a prime 40-acre government-owned land parcel at Survey No. 88 in Mundhwa, which records show was historically designated as Mahar Watan land and belongs to the 'Bombay Sarkar' (Government of Maharashtra). This land, currently valued at approximately ₹1,800 crore, was allegedly sold for a significantly lower price, around ₹300 crore, to Amadea Enterprises LLP, a firm in which Digvijay Singh Patil is a partner and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's son, Parth Pawar, is also a partner.

Focus on Digvijay Patil's Role

Digvijay Singh Patil is one of the main accused named in the First Information Report (FIR) alongside Sheetal Tejwani, the power of attorney (PoA) holder for the original landholders who was recently arrested, and suspended sub-registrar Ravindra Taru. The allegations against Patil stem from his involvement in executing the sale deed of the land, which reportedly took place without the mandatory prior government permission required for restricted Watan land. Furthermore, the transaction allegedly resulted in a substantial revenue loss to the government due to an illegal waiver of stamp duty, amounting to several crore rupees.

The Stakes for Tomorrow’s Hearing

The hearing tomorrow is expected to determine the next steps in the case, particularly regarding the process of recovering the outstanding stamp duty and other penalties. The key question remains whether Digvijay Singh Patil or any representative of Amadea Enterprises LLP will appear before the concerned authority. If the company's representatives fail to appear for the hearing, there is a strong possibility that the department will initiate further action to recover the pending fees and impose penalties, intensifying the legal scrutiny on the firm and its partners. Multiple inquiries and two separate FIRs have been registered in connection with this land deal, indicating the seriousness of the alleged fraud.

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PUNE, 4 DEC. The leader of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), Prakash Ambedkar, has strongly objected to the decision by the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court to declare the results of the state's local self-government elections on December 21. Ambedkar categorically questioned the constitutional validity of the ruling, asserting that, according to the Constitution, the judiciary has no right to interfere in the election process once it has commenced.

He specifically pointed out that the Supreme Court had refused to intervene on similar grounds just last week, which makes the High Court’s decision to postpone the result date perplexing. Ambedkar further stated that legal matters concerning the allotment of election symbols fall under the jurisdiction of only the District-level courts, not the High Court.

The VBA leader expressed significant concern over a potential constitutional dilemma arising from the High Court’s decision to push back the Election Commission’s announced schedule. He questioned how the publication of the gazette from the original process would be reconciled and integrated with the procedures of the new election process. Based on this constitutional ambiguity, the VBA has formally appealed for the Chief Justice to take notice of the matter and order the immediate resumption of the stopped counting of votes.

Ambedkar also asserted that the Election Commission alone holds the authority to announce the election schedule, thereby rendering the court-mandated December 21 date inconsequential. He urged the Election Commission to approach the court itself and seek a directive to restart the cancelled counting. In his remarks, he also took a subtle jab at Devendra Fadnavis, suggesting an inquiry into the manufacturing location of EVM chips.

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PUNE, 4 DEC. The municipal council and Nagar Panchayat elections across Pune district have witnessed a remarkable trend with women voters showing a significantly higher percentage of participation compared to men. This increased enthusiasm and turnout from the female electorate have been instrumental in pushing the overall voting percentage to a substantial level across the 12 municipal councils (Nagar Parishads) and three Nagar Panchayats that recently went to the polls.

Analyzing the Voter Data

According to the preliminary data released following the election, in nearly every local body where elections were held, the percentage of registered women voters who cast their ballot was notably higher than that of registered male voters. While the overall turnout for the combined 15 civic bodies in the district was recorded at a strong 70% (tentative figure), the individual participation rate among women exceeded that of men in multiple regions.

For the 15 civic bodies, a total of 4,51,025 voters were registered. This breakdown included 2,27,142 men, 2,23,407 women, and 23 others, indicating a nearly balanced gender ratio in the electoral rolls. The higher turnout percentage among women electors suggests a growing level of political awareness and a determination to participate actively in shaping local governance decisions.

Impact and Trends

This strong showing by women voters is a crucial indicator of the changing political dynamics at the grassroots level. It highlights the success of voter registration drives and awareness campaigns that have focused on encouraging female participation. Political analysts suggest that this high turnout among women is likely to influence the outcome in several close contests for both the president posts and corporator seats. The results of these local body elections are now eagerly anticipated as they are expected to set the preliminary political trends for forthcoming larger state elections.

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PUNE, 4 DEC. The Koregaon Bhima Inquiry Commission, based in Pune, is facing a challenge in securing the appearance and submission of crucial evidence from former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Following Thackeray's recent failure to appear before the commission despite a formal notice, an application has been filed by the lawyers representing Prakash Ambedkar, seeking an arrest warrant against the former Chief Minister for non-compliance. The commission is yet to pass an order on this request.

Background on the Non-Compliance

The controversy centers around a letter that Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar had allegedly written to the then-Chief Minister Thackeray in January 2020 concerning the violence that occurred near Koregaon Bhima in 2018. Pawar, who had earlier testified before the commission, stated that he did not possess a copy of the letter anymore.

Subsequently, the inquiry panel directed Thackeray to produce the said document. Notices were issued to him on multiple occasions—reportedly on September 12 and October 27, and another show-cause notice was also issued, asking him to explain why an application for a bailable warrant against him should not be allowed. Despite these formal directives, neither Thackeray nor any representative on his behalf appeared before the commission on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025 (as per one of the reports) or submitted the requested letter.

Ambedkar’s Plea and Commission’s Stance

Advocates for Prakash Ambedkar, the founder-president of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and a witness in the case, filed an application demanding the issuance of a warrant, citing Thackeray’s continued disregard for the commission's instructions. The documents sought by Ambedkar are significant as they allegedly contain claims made by Sharad Pawar that certain right-wing organizations were responsible for the 2018 violence. The commission, led by former High Court Chief Justice J.N. Patel, is currently considering the plea for the warrant. It had previously warned that if Thackeray or his legal representative failed to appear, "further action permissible in law" would be taken.

The commission was constituted by the Maharashtra government in February 2018 to investigate the widespread violence that erupted near the Koregaon Bhima war memorial on January 1, 2018.

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PUNE, 3 DEC. Pune Police have made a significant move in the notorious 40-acre land scam near Mundhwa, Koregaon Park, by arresting Sheetal Tejwani immediately after the conclusion of local body elections. Tejwani faces serious allegations of using Power of Attorney and forged documents to illegally seize the land.

The case has escalated political tension as the land transaction is directly linked to a company associated with Parth Pawar, son of Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar. The investigation, which had slowed down during the local elections, has now gained momentum, with police actively probing the entire network connected to the scam.

Allegations of Fraud and Revenue Loss

Pune Police had previously interrogated Sheetal Tejwani. Sources indicate that during the investigation, several crucial facts and documents emerged, confirming her direct involvement, which led to her arrest.

The scam came to light when an attempt was made to illegally transfer government and 'watan' land (hereditary service land) located near Koregaon Park to private individuals. Investigations revealed that forged documents were created to conceal the land's original ownership. It is alleged that despite the land's actual worth being in crores, it was transacted at a significantly lower price based on fraudulent paperwork, resulting in a substantial loss of government revenue.

Special Exemption Under the Pretext of IT Park

Digvijay Singh Patil, a partner in Parth Pawar’s company, Amedia Enterprises, purchased the 40-acre land belonging to the Botanical Survey of India in Mundhwa, reportedly for around ₹300 crore, through Sheetal Tejwani. The purchase was justified by claiming the area would be developed as an IT Park, and a Letter of Intent (LOI) was obtained from the Directorate of Industries on this basis.

As IT Park projects are incentivized, they are eligible for exemptions on Stamp Duty. Typically, 7% stamp duty is applicable, with up to a 5% exemption available. However, the company was granted a full exemption of the entire 7%—amounting to approximately ₹21 crore—at the time of registration.

Investigation Timeline

The timeline of the police action is noteworthy:

• November 6: An FIR was registered against Sheetal Tejwani after the scam became public.

• November 6–14: The police remained inactive for nine days following the registration of the case.

• November 14: The police issued a notice to Sheetal Tejwani.

• November 18: After her plea was rejected by the High Court, Sheetal appeared before the Pune Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) for investigation.

• November 20: Dissatisfied with her answers, authorities summoned her again.

• December 3: In a major action, Sheetal Tejwani was finally arrested.

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PUNE, 3 DEC. Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi has directed that the process for Deemed Conveyance of co-operative housing societies be completed swiftly, in view of the large number of pending cases.

He emphasized that to ensure quick registration and uniformity of the Deemed Conveyance document—the Sale Deed (Khareedikhat)—after the order and certificate are issued, 2-3 officers from the 27 Sub-Registrar offices in Pune city will be nominated as Designated Officers. Furthermore, he instructed the administration and the Pune District Co-operative Housing Federation to work in coordination to resolve the issues faced by citizens. Collector Dudi gave these directives during a review meeting of the Deemed Conveyance District Level Coordination Committee held at the Collector's office.

Focus on Compliance and Clearing Backlogs

Collector Dudi pointed out that according to the Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act, 1963, registered co-operative housing societies should complete the conveyance process within four months of the society's registration. However, he noted that no concrete action has been taken in this direction yet.

He stressed the need for comprehensive action to finalize the conveyance of co-operative housing societies. Dudi also stated that all pending cases must be resolved swiftly in accordance with the law, and developers should also come forward voluntarily to complete the Deemed Conveyance process.

The review meeting was attended by Pune City District Deputy Registrar Sanjay Raut, Pune Rural District Deputy Registrar Prakash Jagtap, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Patil, President of the Maharashtra State Co-operative Housing Societies and Apartments Federation Suhas Patwardhan, and Advocate Vasant Karjatkar of the Pune Housing Society Federation, among other officials.

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