The Income Tax Department has cleared properties worth over ₹1,000 crore linked to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and his family. These properties, including a sugar factory in Satara, a flat in Delhi, and a resort in Goa, were initially seized in 2021 during investigations into alleged benami transactions. The Prevention of Benami Property Transactions Appellate Tribunal ruled that there was no evidence to support the allegations of benami dealings.
Ajit Pawar’s legal counsel, Advocate Prashant Patil, emphasized that all transactions related to these assets were legitimate and transparent. The tribunal’s findings vindicated Pawar and his family, with the judgment pointing to a lack of substantial proof behind the accusations.
This development comes shortly after Ajit Pawar was sworn in as Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister in the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP coalition government, which enjoys a robust majority of 230 seats in the 288-member state assembly. Observers have noted the timing of the decision amid Pawar’s prominent political positioning in the state.
The tribunal’s ruling not only clears Pawar’s name but also raises questions about the initial seizure of the properties during the 2021 raids. The judgment reaffirms the importance of due process and evidentiary standards in such high-profile cases, emphasizing the need for robust legal scrutiny in matters of financial and property transactions involving public figures.