India, Nov. 14 -- A major land scam involving the illegal sale of government-owned property has surfaced in Pune, prompting the Maharashtra government to suspend a senior registration officer and initiate a high-level probe.

The case concerns a 15-acre plot in Tathawade, Pimpri-Chinchwad, valued at nearly Rs.750 crore, allegedly sold for just Rs.33 crore through a private transaction in violation of state rules. The land, under Survey Number 20, Mulshi Taluka, belongs to the animal husbandry department and officially classified as non-transferable without prior government approval.

Following a joint inquiry by the deputy inspector general of registration and deputy controller of stamps, Pune division, along with the district registrar a...