Congress accused Pratap Sarnaik of land deal fraud amid ongoing Ajit Pawar row

According to Vijay Wadettiewar, the land parcel was acquired under the name of Pratap Sarnaik International School.

Mumbai: Even as Deputy Chief Minister and NCP President Ajit Pawar came under fire from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi for the land deal involving his son Parth Pawar, the Congress has alleged that Shiv Sena leader and state Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has acquired a four-acre land parcel in Thane district for around Rs four crore as against the market value of Rs 100 crore.

Sarnaik, an MLA from Ovala-Majiwada, is considered close to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who is the Shiv Sena chief leader.

The land question is located in the Mira-Bhayander suburbs in Thane district neighbouring Mumbai.

“Can a minister of the government or for that matter a deputy chief minister or chief minister purchase a reserved land of the government,” Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiewar said on Monday.

According to him, the land parcel was acquired under the name of Pratap Sarnaik International School.

“There was a reservation on that land…the process was completed in one to one-and-a-half months. The land was given to him for around Rs 4.78 crore….the value of the land is around Rs 100 crore plus…can such a transaction happen,” said Wadettiwar and asked for a probe into the issue.

"Can a minister procure such land for his own educational institute? If this is permissible, then let this be Maharashtra,” said Wadettiwar, an ex minister and former two-time Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Assembly.

Sarnaik, however, denied the charges.

"I expect him to provide documents substantiating his allegations against me. I am also wondering where the said land is and how it is linked to me? It is true that as a minister we face allegations frequently," he said.