It’s a double whammy for Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s son Parth. After controversy erupted over the purchase of government land by a company where Parth is a partner, not only was the deal cancelled, but it turns out the firm will still have to pay stamp duty. To add insult to injury, the company will have to pay Rs 21 crore (7 per cent) for the registration of the Rs 300-crore deal, along with another Rs 21 crore for cancelling it,  officials from the revenue department said.

mid-day has reported how the deal caused a furore when it emerged that the government land parcel in Pune was being purchased in violation of norms. The plot was undervalued by six times (from Rs 1800 crore), and stamp duty was also waived off upon the claim that the procurement was for an IT park.