Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is relieved that the Income Tax Department has freed assets worth over ₹ 1,000 crore that were confiscated in 2021. The decision came after the Prevention of Benami Property Transactions Appellate Tribunal dismissed allegations that he and his family had benami property.
The verdict came a day after Mr Pawar and Sena’s Eknath Shinde took oaths as Deputy Chief Ministers at Devendra Fadnavis’ swearing-in ceremony. On October 7, 2021, the I-T department raided multiple places associated to the NCP leader and his family, alleging that he had benami assets. Several properties, including a sugar factory in Satara, a flat in Delhi, and a resort in Goa were attached in the case.
The panel dismissed the allegations, citing a lack of adequate evidence. It stated that the properties were purchased through normal financial channels and that the I-T department has been unable to establish any relationship between Benami homes and the Pawar family.
“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,” according to the panel.
