Akola, Nov 8: NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday in his reaction on the Pune land deal row involving Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s son Parth Pawar, said that a probe should be conducted and the truth must come out.

The senior Pawar said that as Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has stated that “it a serious issue”, an enquiry must be conducted into the land transaction by Parth Pawar’s firm Amedea Enterprises LLP and the real picture should be presented before society.

Sharad Pawar gave his reaction a day after Dy CM Ajit Pawar on Friday evening made an announcement on the cancellation of a sale deed for the land transaction in Pune’s upscale Mundhwa-Koregaon Park.

Sharad Pawar said, “I cannot say anything about this. But the chief minister has claimed it a serious issue and therefore an enquiry must be conducted in this and the real picture should be presented before society.

“The state government has formed an enquiry committee on this. Therefore, we should see what issues come to light from the report of this committee.”

To a question on how does he view this matter as Ajit Pawar is his nephew, Pawar said, “There is a difference between administration, politics and family. If you ask me as the head of the family, we fought elections against each other. One of my grandsons stood against Ajit Pawar. Ajit Pawar’s wife stood against my daughter. We do not bring family into politics, but our ideology.”

When asked about a soft stand taken by Supriya Sule on Parth Pawar in connection with the Pune land deal controversy, Pawar said it may be her view.

To a question whether an attempt has been made to target Ajit Pawar in the Pune land deal row, Sharad Pawar said, “I cannot say anything.”

Sharad Pawar’s comment is important as Dy CM Ajit Pawar was forced to intervene amid a chorus from the Opposition for his resignation and registration of a case against his son Parth Pawar in connection with the land deal.

“Not a single paisa was given in the land deal. The land deal transaction documents have been cancelled. The six-member committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary Vikas Kharge has been formed to look into the alleged irregularities and submit a report. I expect the committee to function in a transparent manner,” said Ajit Pawar.

He reiterated that there has been no money transaction in the Pune land deal. Two FIRs have already been registered in this regard and the police will hold the probe with transparency.

Ajit Pawar further stated that he was not aware of the transaction with regard to the Pune land deal and the committee would see how the registration of the sale deed took place.

Meanwhile, on Bihar Assembly elections, Shard Pawar said people want a change although Bihar is poor but its citizens are politically alert. “I won’t be surprised if the ruling alliance loses Bihar.”

On the Opposition’s strategy for local body polls in Maharashtra, Sharad Pawar said, “The decision will be taken unanimously.”

Raipur, Nov 8: Targeting armed cadres of the banned CPI (Maoist), the National Investigation Agency has raided 12 locations linked to the deadly Aranpur IED blast of May 2023 that killed 10 DRG personnel and a civilian driver.

Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Vijay Sharma lauded the NIA’s synchronised raids across 12 locations in Sukma and Dantewada districts, describing the operation as a “decisive blow” to Maoist financial networks and a “vital step toward lasting peace in Bastar”.

Speaking to reporters at his secretariat office, the Deputy CM said, the NIA’s action is not just investigative, it’s surgical.

“By hitting the economic spine of these extremists, we are choking their ability to wage war on the state and its people,” he said.

The deadly attack was executed by the Darbha Division Committee of Naxalites on April 26, 2023, near Pedka village in the Aranpur police station area of Dantewada district.

During the recent raids, the NIA recovered several critical and incriminating items, including cash, handwritten documents, and receipt books used by the Maoist organisation for levy collection.

Investigations have established that all the arrested individuals were directly linked to CPI (Maoist) cadres responsible for orchestrating the blast. The NIA continues its probe into the matter.

To date, two charge sheets have been filed in the case, and 27 people have been apprehended. With 27 arrests in the Aranpur case so far, more raids targeting urban sympathisers in Raipur and Bhilai.

Sharma said Bastar’s children deserve classrooms, not coffins.

“Today’s action is their future speaking louder than gunfire,” he said.

The raids began at 5 a.m. across remote villages like Konta, Chintagufa, and Errabor. In one instance at Gadiras, NIA sleuths – backed by CRPF CoBRA commandos – cordoned off a thatched safehouse, seizing a laptop allegedly used to coordinate levy demands from iron-ore transporters.

He linked the operation to the broader anti-Maoist strategy under ‘Mission Bastar 2026’, which aims to establish 48 new security camps and develop 12,000 km of all-weather roads by 2026.

The Aranpur blast, triggered by a 40-kg IED planted under a culvert on the Dantewada-Sukma highway, had exposed intelligence gaps. Friday’s recoveries include GPS coordinates matching the blast site, strengthening the probe. “This connects the dots from funding to execution,” Sharma said.

Mumbai: The Thane police have arrested a man accused of cheating people by luring them with promises of quick profits and selling gold at throwaway prices, while actually using toy currency notes and fake gold bars in the scam. The accused, identified as Sanjaykumar Pakodilal Bharti, 43, a resident of Yashwant Chawl, Padmanagar, Dhamankar Naka, Bhiwandi, was arrested by the Kapurbawdi police during a trap operation.

According to police officials, the complainant Nitesh Harishchandra Shelke was approached by a person who promised to triple his money within three weeks offering Rs3 lakh in return for Rs1 lakh. Suspicious of the deal, Shelke alerted the Kapurbawdi police, who registered an FIR under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) Act and launched an investigation.

Acting on a tip-off from Shelke, police laid a trap near Global Hospital, Saket–Balkum Road, Thane, on November 3 around 2 p.m. When the suspect arrived to exchange toy notes for real currency, officers caught Bharti red-handed. His accomplice, however, managed to flee the scene.

During the search, police seized a large quantity of toy currency bundles and gold-like metal biscuits resembling genuine gold bars. Deputy Commissioner of Police Prashant Kadam (Zone V, Wagle Estate) confirmed the seizure and stated that these materials were intended for cheating unsuspecting victims.

Investigations revealed that the gang would pack toy notes clearly marked “For School Project Use Only” and “Bachon Ka Bank” into bundles with real Rs500 notes placed at the top and bottom to make them appear genuine. Victims were also duped with fake gold biscuits marked “Suisse 100g Fine Gold 999.9”.

Police believe the accused and his accomplices have cheated several others using similar methods. Further investigation is underway to trace the absconding suspects and identify more victims.

1. 360 bundles of fake Rs500 notes (each bundle containing 100 notes)

2. 38 yellow metal bars resembling gold biscuits

3. A black Honda Unicorn motorcycle (MH-03 DAF-6202)