In a significant development, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and his family have been cleared of allegations of benami property ownership. According to a report by News18, the Prevention of Benami Property Transactions Appellate Tribunal passed the order just a day after Pawar was sworn in as Deputy CM on Thursday.
Following the tribunal’s decision, the Income Tax Department on Friday released properties worth over ₹1,000 crore that were seized during searches in 2021, the News18 report added.
Details of the Case
The case dates back to October 7, 2021, when the Income Tax Department conducted raids at multiple locations linked to Ajit Pawar and his family. It was alleged that they held assets acquired through benami transactions.
The seized properties included several land parcels in Maharashtra, a flat in Delhi, the Jarandeshwar Sugar Factory in Satara, and a resort in Goa.
Tribunal's Verdict
Delivering the verdict, the tribunal stated that no substantial evidence linked Pawar or his family to benami property ownership. It concluded that all financial transactions related to the properties were made through legitimate channels, such as bank transfers or other legal methods.
“There is no evidence to suggest that Ajit Pawar or his family transferred funds to acquire benami properties,” the tribunal noted.
Advocate Prashant Patil, who represented Pawar, argued that the allegations were baseless and lacked legal standing under the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act. He emphasized that the family conducted all transactions transparently, with no discrepancies in the banking records provided.
The tribunal further highlighted that the evidence submitted by the Income Tax Department failed to establish any link between the Pawar family and the alleged benami properties.
This ruling marks a major relief for Ajit Pawar and his family, putting an end to the high-profile allegations that had been looming over them since 2021.
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