NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday distanced himself from the controversy surrounding a land deal linked to his grandnephew Parth Pawar's firm. The former Union Minister said he supports a probe into the contentious land deal while referring to CM Devendra Fadnavis' remarks that the issue was 'serious'

"The chief minister has said publicly that the matter is serious. So he should conduct a probe and put the facts before society," Pawar said.

The controversy pertains to the alleged illegal sale of 40 acres of government land in Pune's Mundhwa area, reportedly worth around Rs 1,800 crore, which opposition leaders claim was purchased by a company linked to Parth for only Rs 300 crore with a stamp duty waiver. Parth is the son of Sharad Parad's nephew and Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawa

See Full Page