Rohit Pawar vs BJP minister over Rs 94-cr fine 'waiver' to Megha Engineering

A  war of words has broken out in Maharashtra between NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule over allegations of a massive fine waiver granted to Megha Engineering.

Over the past three days, Pawar has posted a series of sharp attacks on social media, accusing the Revenue Department of waiving fines worth Rs 94.68 crore that were imposed on Megha Engineering for illegal excavation. Citing official documents, he claimed that while district officials had levied fines and even seized machinery, the Revenue Minister intervened to slash the penalty to just Rs 17 lakh and return the seized equipment.

The allegations relate to repeated cases of illegal excavation by Megha Engineering in Jalna district, where the company was reportedly extracting minor minerals without mandatory permissions during infrastructure projects. Revenue officials had imposed heavy penalties and seized equipment, but these actions were allegedly overturned or diluted due to ministerial intervention, Pawar alleged.

"Is the Maharashtra government collecting revenue or repaying favours for electoral bonds?" Pawar asked, pointing out that small farmers and ordinary citizens face steep fines for minor violations, while big corporations enjoy "bumper discounts."

Bawankule hit back, denying the allegations. He clarified that the fine was not waived but stayed by a previous revenue minister in 2022. "A stay on recovery is not a waiver," he said, accusing Pawar of misleading the public and using social media for political mileage instead of raising the issue in the legislature.

Unrelenting, Pawar released more documents, citing assembly replies where Bawankule himself admitted to orders reducing fines and releasing seized machinery. "Even Amazon doesn't offer such bumper discounts," he mocked, alleging a "bond" between Megha Engineering and the ruling party.

Pawar has vowed to raise the matter in the upcoming winter assembly session, demanding the revival of the original penalty orders.