Pune, Nov. 14 -- A major land scam involving illegal sale of government-owned property has surfaced in Pune, prompting 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 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 animal husbandry department and officially classified as non-transferable without prior government approval. Following a joint inquiry by deputy inspector general of registration and deputy controller of stamps, Pune division, along with district registrar and stamps officer, Pune city, state government suspended Vidya Shankar Bade-Sangle, senior clerk and incharge sub-registrar (Class II), Haveli Number 17, Pune city. She is accused of registering the sale deed despite explicit prohibitions. The Tathawade land case comes barely a week after the Mundhwa property deal case in which a company controlled by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar's son Parth Pawar was linked. The government has already suspended a sub-registrar in the case and filed two FIRs, including one against the tehsildar. There's one more land related irregularity in which agricultural land in Bopodi was sold to private entities, according to officials. According to official records, the disputed deal was registered under sale deed number 685/2025, dated January 9, 2025. Bade allegedly accepted an outdated 7/12 extract from June 2023 that did not indicate the land's government ownership or restricted status. However, the updated 7/12 extract from February 2025, later obtained by inquiry officers, clearly listed commissioner, animal husbandry department, as property owner and specified that the land could not be sold or transferred. But, Bade processed the registration without obtaining mandatory sanction or higher-level clearance. According to Bade's suspension order, she used the "skip" or "keep option" feature in the registration software, allowing the transaction to proceed despite incomplete verification of ownership details. Officials said "this bypassed the built-in safeguards designed to block the registration of restricted properties". Taking serious note of this, inspector general of registration and superintendent of stamps, Maharashtra, issued a suspension order on Thursday, under Rule 4 of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979. "The act conducted by Bade is of serious nature. As Bade's continuation in service will adversely impact the case, she will be suspended under Rule 4 of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979," stated the order, a copy of which has been reviewed by HT. During suspension, Bade has been posted at the principal stamps office, Mumbai, and barred from leaving headquarters without permission from the deputy controller of stamps, Mumbai. She will receive a subsistence allowance under the Maharashtra Civil Services (Suspension and Subsistence Allowance) Rules, 1981, and is prohibited from engaging in private employment. A departmental inquiry has been initiated to determine the extent of irregularities and whether other officials were complicit. Investigators are also examining drastic undervaluation of the land, indicating possible collusion between private buyers, intermediaries, and government officials. A preliminary report was submitted to the government, and disciplinary and legal action is expected once the inquiry concludes. Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the government would take "strong and transparent action" against those found guilty. "Government land belongs to the people, not individuals. Anyone misusing authority or compromising public property will face strict consequences," he said. Pune district administration and police have started collecting documents and evidence. Authorities are also examining whether to invoke Maharashtra Public Trusts and Prevention of Corruption Acts if intent and collusion are established....