Big relief to Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar! Court releases benami properties

NCP Chief Property Case: Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has got a big relief. The seized properties of NCP leader Ajit Pawar have been exempted from income tax. Delhi’s Benami Tribunal Court, while giving its verdict on Friday (December 6, 2024), has released the seized properties of Ajit Pawar.

On 07.10.2021, the Income Tax Department conducted raids on different companies, in which some documents were recovered alleging that some of the properties were benami properties of Ajit Pawar and his family. The Delhi-based Benami Appellate Tribunal rejected these allegations and the Income Tax appeal against this rejection was also dismissed by the Benami Tribunal on 05.11.2024. Income Tax had seized the property of Ajit Pawar, son Parth Pawar and wife Sunetra Pawar, the court issued an order to release the property.

Became Deputy CM yesterday and property released today

This decision of the tribunal has come a day after Ajit Pawar took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. The Mahayuti alliance had won a landslide victory in the assembly elections and there was a deadlock in government formation. On November 5, 2024, the tribunal confirmed its stand by dismissing the appeal filed by the Income Tax Department, thereby upholding its previous decision. With this decision, the properties previously seized by the Income Tax authorities have been freed.

No property was registered in the name of Ajit Pawar

In October 2021, authorities seized assets worth over Rs 1,000 crore under the Prevention of Benami Properties Act (PBPP). The action included searches of residences and offices of people associated with Ajit Pawar in Maharashtra and Mumbai, including his relatives, sisters and close associates. However, sources said that none of these properties are directly registered in the name of the NCP leader.

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