Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar received significant relief as the Income Tax Department cleared properties worth over ₹1,000 crore, which had been seized in 2021. This decision followed the Prevention of Benami Property Transactions Appellate Tribunal’s dismissal of allegations that Pawar and his family owned benami properties.
The ruling came just a day after Ajit Pawar was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister alongside Eknath Shinde, with Devendra Fadnavis taking the oath as Chief Minister.
On October 7, 2021, the Income Tax Department raided multiple properties linked to Pawar and his family, alleging benami ownership. The seized assets included a sugar factory in Satara, a flat in Delhi, and a resort in Goa.
However, investigations revealed that none of the properties were registered under Pawar’s name. The tribunal concluded there was insufficient evidence to support the allegations, stating that the properties were acquired through legitimate financial means. The Income Tax Department could not establish any link between the Pawar family and benami assets.
The tribunal further noted, “There is no evidence to suggest that Ajit Pawar or his family transferred funds to acquire benami properties… it’s not that Ajit Pawar, Sunetra Pawar, and Parth Pawar transferred funds to procure benami properties.”
Ajit Pawar’s lawyer, Prashant Patil, argued that the accusations lacked legal basis. He emphasized that all property transactions were conducted through legitimate banking channels, with no irregularities found in the financial records.