Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Nov 10: Against the backdrop of a political storm over the Pune land deal involving Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar’s son, Parth Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party–Sharad Pawar (NCP-SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Monday met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis at his official residence.
According to sources, the 15-minute meeting primarily revolved around the upcoming Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) elections scheduled for Wednesday, though the timing of the interaction has sparked political speculation. After the meeting, Pawar left for his office at the Y.B. Chavan Centre near Mantralaya.
Insiders said that Pawar discussed the election strategy for the MCA polls and later spoke to members of the panel contesting under his faction, advising that certain candidates may be asked to withdraw their nominations. While Fadnavis has not fielded his own panel, his support is expected to play a key role in determining the outcome of the influential cricket body’s elections.
The meeting comes just days after Sharad Pawar reacted cautiously to the Pune land deal controversy involving Amedea Enterprises LLP, a firm in which Parth Pawar holds a 99 per cent stake. The company is under scrutiny over the purchase of 44 acres of Mahar Watan land reportedly worth over Rs 1,800 crore.
Addressing the issue earlier, Sharad Pawar had said, “The Chief Minister has termed it a serious issue. An inquiry should be conducted, and the real facts must come before society.”
Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, meanwhile, defended his son, attributing the alleged irregularities to the sub-registrar who processed the deal. The Maharashtra Revenue Department has since suspended sub-registrar Ravindra Taru for purportedly waiving Rs 21 crore in stamp duty on the Rs 300-crore transaction.
Police have also registered cases against multiple individuals, including Parth Pawar’s associate Digvijay Patil and businesswoman Sheetal Tejwani, as part of the ongoing probe.
While officials maintain that Monday’s Pawar–Fadnavis meeting was focused on MCA elections, the convergence of cricket and controversy has ensured that political undercurrents run deep.