Sat Dec 07 04:43:18 UTC 2024: ## Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Cleared of Benami Property Charges

**Mumbai, India** – Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has received a significant reprieve after the Income Tax (IT) department released properties worth over Rs 1,000 crore that were seized in 2021. The IT department’s action follows a ruling by the Prevention of Benami Property Transactions Appellate Tribunal dismissing allegations that Pawar and his family owned benami (beneficially owned) assets.

The tribunal’s decision, announced just a day after Pawar’s swearing-in ceremony as Deputy Chief Minister alongside Eknath Shinde, concludes a long-running investigation. In October 2021, the IT department raided multiple locations linked to Pawar and his family, focusing on allegations of benami holdings, including a sugar factory in Satara, a Delhi flat, and a Goa resort.

However, the investigation found no evidence linking Pawar or his family to the properties, with the tribunal citing a lack of sufficient evidence to support the benami claims. The tribunal specifically stated that the properties were acquired through legitimate financial channels and that the IT department failed to establish any connection between the Pawar family and illicit transactions. The tribunal’s ruling emphasized the absence of evidence showing funds transferred by Ajit Pawar, his wife Sunetra Pawar, or son Parth Pawar to acquire the properties.

Prashant Patil, the lawyer representing Pawar and his family, welcomed the decision, asserting that the allegations were baseless and that all property transactions were conducted through legitimate banking channels, with no irregularities. The release of the seized assets marks a significant victory for Pawar, clearing his name in a high-profile case.

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