Suspecting one of the biggest revenue frauds in Maharashtra’s history, the State Government has ordered a statewide probe into stamp duty adjudication cases handled over the last five years following alleged irregularities unearthed in Navi Mumbai. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Thursday informed the Legislative Assembly that all adjudication cases processed between April 1, 2021, and March 31, 2026, will be scrutinised by a Special Task Force (STF) functioning under the supervision of the Accountant General (AG). He was replying to a question raised by MLA Jitendra Awhad.
The minister said preliminary findings point to suspected irregularities amounting to Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore across the State, indicating large-scale manipulation in stamp duty adjudication and property registration. “This inquiry will separate facts from manipulation and establish accountability. Officials found guilty of such misconduct have no place in public service,” Bawankule told the House.
The decision follows the detection of alleged fraud in Navi Mumbai, where a senior clerk is accused of registering more than 800 documents within 10 days, triggering suspicions of a well-organised racket. The Revenue Department alleged that provisions of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966, and the Maharashtra Stamp Act were violated to facilitate registration of unauthorised constructions.
The department estimates that the Navi Mumbai case alone caused a loss of Rs 13.99 crore to the State exchequer. An FIR has been registered at Turbhe MIDC Police Station, the official has been suspended, and the Government is examining legal provisions for his dismissal from service.
Bawankule said the alleged scam appeared to have been executed in a systematic manner with the involvement of vested interests linked to unauthorised construction activities. Investigators have also found suspected manipulation in adjudication proceedings, where stamp duty valuations were allegedly inflated and subsequently reduced through misuse of quasi-judicial powers, resulting in substantial revenue loss.
The Government will provide the AG’s Special Task Force with dedicated manpower, financial resources and administrative support to carry out the investigation. The inquiry will examine adjudication orders across Maharashtra to determine whether similar irregularities occurred elsewhere.
The minister also announced that the Government will introduce a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for adjudication proceedings to reduce discretionary powers and improve transparency in stamp duty administration. Officials found responsible for violations of the Stamp Act or financial loss to the State will face departmental as well as criminal action. The statewide audit is expected to be one of the most extensive investigations into Maharashtra’s property registration and stamp duty administration, with authorities seeking to establish the full extent of the alleged revenue fraud.
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