The Maharashtra state government has granted a second one-month extension to the high-level committee investigating alleged irregularities in the controversial Mundhwa land purchase deed linked to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's son, Parth Pawar. This move pushes the deadline for the final report to February 6, 2026.
Why the Committee Needs More Time
The five-member panel, led by Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Vikas Kharge, was initially formed in early November 2025. It was tasked with looking into serious allegations of procedural lapses during the registration of the land in question. The transaction had come under intense scrutiny over concerns related to its valuation, documentation, and the potential involvement of officials in the registration process, sparking a major political controversy.
The committee's first deadline was December 6, 2025. After failing to complete its work, it received a one-month extension until January 6, 2026. Officials confirmed that the latest extension, granted through an order from the Revenue and Forest Department, followed a review meeting chaired by Kharge. During this meeting, the panel informed the government that it required additional time to thoroughly examine a vast array of records and finalize its conclusions.
Official Reasoning and Political Backlash
A senior revenue department official stated on Wednesday that a formal proposal for an extension was submitted after internal discussions within the committee. "Based on the government's approval, a further one-month extension has been granted for submission of the report," the official said. The order, dated January 7 and signed by Joint Secretary Satyanarayan Bajaj, formally grants this additional month.
Sources within the revenue department explained the delay, citing the sheer volume of documentation that needs examination. The inquiry requires poring over extensive records from multiple offices, including registration papers, valuation reports, and related official correspondence.
"The committee felt it would be inappropriate to submit a report without thoroughly scrutinising all documents and responses," another official remarked, defending the need for more time.
Opposition and Activists Cry Foul
However, politicians from opposition parties and social activists have slammed the extension, calling it an expected tactic to delay justice. Social activist Vijay Kumbhar, who has been doggedly pursuing the case, said the extension only reinforced his long-held suspicions about the probe's intent.
"From the day this committee was formed, I said it would deliver nothing. It was created to mislead the public," Kumbhar asserted, expressing a lack of faith in the investigation's outcome. The repeated extensions have fueled allegations that the probe is being deliberately drawn out to let the political heat subside.
The Mundhwa land case continues to be a significant point of political contention in Maharashtra, with the latest development ensuring it remains in the headlines for at least another month.
