India, Dec. 9 -- A government official tasked with preventing stamp duty loss is now at the centre of one of Pune's most serious land registration frauds. Haveli-4 sub-registrar Ravindra Balkrushna Taru, 58, on Monday was remanded to eight days' police custody by the judicial magistrate first class (JMFC), Paud, for his alleged role in the Mundhwa land registration fraud. Taru was arrested by the Bavdhan police Sunday evening for allegedly allowing a land deed valued at Rs.300 crore to be registered with a stamp duty payment of just Rs.500, causing an estimated Rs.21 crore loss to the state exchequer. The land was purchased by Amadea Enterprises, a firm linked to deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar's son, Parth Pawar.

Bavdhan police inspect...