New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused the Maharashtra government of selling land reserved for Dalits, worth Rs 1,800 crore, to a company linked to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s son for just Rs 300 crore. He termed the deal a “land theft” carried out by a government “formed through vote theft.”

In a post on X, Gandhi questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the matter, alleging that the government continues to protect those who “usurp the rights of Dalits and the deprived.”

The controversy erupted over a Rs 300-crore land deal in Pune involving a firm connected to Ajit Pawar’s son, Parth, which triggered allegations of irregularities and a political storm. The government has since ordered a high-level investigation into the transaction.

“In Maharashtra, government land worth Rs 1,800 crore reserved for Dalits was sold to a minister’s son’s company for Rs 300 crore. On top of that, the stamp duty was also waived on the land deal – meaning not only is it a robbery, but a waiver on the legal stamp duty too,” Gandhi alleged. “This is land theft by that government, which itself was formed through vote theft,” he added. “Modi ji, your silence speaks volumes – Are you silent because your government rests on those very looters who usurp the rights of Dalits and the deprived?”

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the case as “prima facie serious” and sought a departmental report, while Ajit Pawar denied having any connection with the deal. The Opposition attacked the ruling Mahayuti alliance of the BJP, Ajit Pawar’s NCP, and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, demanding a judicial probe.

Authorities have suspended a sub-registrar and set up a high-level committee to examine the alleged irregularities. An FIR has also been registered against three individuals in connection with the sale.

According to officials, 40 acres of Mahar Vatan land in Pune’s Mundhwa area were sold to Amadea Enterprises LLP, where Parth Pawar is a partner. The transaction, valued at Rs 300 crore, also had its stamp duty waived, raising further concerns over the legality of the deal. Parth Pawar has yet to respond to the allegations.

With inputs from PTI