The Pimpri Chinchwad police is set to arrest Sheetal Tejwani (44), in connection with the separate offence lodged against her at the Bavdhan police station, over alleged irregularities in Mundhwa land deal case, involving a firm in which Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s son, Parth, is a partner.
Police also questioned Digvijay Patil, a co-accused in this case, on Monday. Police had earlier arrested Ravindra Taru, the now-suspended sub-registrar, in this case, on December 7. Taru had registered the sale deed pertaining to the Mundhwa land deal in May this year. A court today extended his police custody by four days.
Meanwhile, Tejwani was arrested by the Pune city police on December 3, for probing her role in the Mundhwa land scam offence lodged at the Khadak police station. As her custody period in this case expired, the Pune police produced her before the court today. The court then remanded her to magisterial custody.
The Pimpri Chinchwad police had last week filed an application before the Pune court for Tejwani’s production warrant.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (zone 2) Vishal Gaikwad of Pimpri Chinchwad police said, “We would be arresting Tejwani on Tuesday after completing the legal procedure. She has withdrawn her pre-arrest bail application from Bombay High Court. Her custody with Pune city police has ended. So we would be taking her into our custody for investigation.”
It is alleged that the firm Amadea Enterprises LLP in which Parth Pawar and Digvijay Patil are partners, purchased 40 acres of land in prime Mundhwa area of Pune, which was categorised as Mahar watan land. As per the rules, such watan lands cannot be sold without prior approval from the state government. Incidentally, the said land parcel was leased to the Botanical Survey of India.
It has been alleged the land was sold to the company for a mere Rs 300 crore along with a waiver of stamp duty, when the actual market value of the land is estimated to be over five times this amount.
Based on the complaint filed by officials from the IGR, an FIR was registered on November 6 at Bavdhan police station under Pimpri Chinchwad police as the registration of land deal took place at sub-registrar office ‘Haveli Number 4’ in its jurisdiction.
On November 7, based on a complaint filed by Pravina Borde (50), sub divisional officer (for Pune sub division), another FOR pertaining to the land scam was lodged at the Khadak police station. Police said this FIR was related to alleged irregularities involving two separate land parcels in Bopodi and Mundhwa, linked by a common factor: suspended tehsildar Suryakant Yewale, who is accused of issuing wrongful orders in both cases. The probe into this FIR was taken over by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Pune City Police.
Police said Tejwani held the power of attorney for 272 watandars of Mahar watan land in Mundhwa for its sale to Amadea Enterprises LLP. Police have recovered the original sale deed of the land deal dated May 20, 2025, from Tejwani during investigation.
Pune police have submitted in the court that sale deed of the Mundhwa land was expected to be registered in a nearby sub registrar office, but it was registered at a far off sub registrar office in Bavdhan jurisdiction, the reason for this is to be investigated.
Police are also probing whether Tejwani herself accepted Rs 300 crore amount of the deal and in what way. Police have also told the court that the original 272 watandars had not received any money from the transaction of the controversial deal.
Pune police probe has revealed that Tejwani had made several unsuccessful attempts starting 2013 to seek regrant of the land parcel leased to the Botanical Survey of India. Probe has also revealed that In spite of failed attempts, in November 2020, Tejwani allegedly filed an application to the Additional Collector, Pune stating that the said land had been regranted to its original watandars, when no such order had been passed by any authority.
Meanwhile, police have informed the court about a total 11 criminal cases registered against Tejwani between 2015 and 2025, which pertain to criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery along with charges of criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence.
The Pimpri Chinchwad police had last week filed an application before the Pune court for Tejwani's production warrant. (Express File Photo by Pavan Khengre) 
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