Mumbai, June 25 (IANS) The Maharashtra government will establish two independent task forces, one to investigate alleged irregularities in the stamp duty registration process and another to curb illegal minor mineral excavation across the state.

Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule made the announcements on Thursday during Question Hour in the State Legislative Assembly. Responding to a question raised by MLA Jitendra Awhad and a supplementary query by MLA Nana Patole, the minister said a state-level inquiry into alleged malpractices in stamp duty registrations will be handed over to the Accountant General (AG) office.

The AG will conduct a thorough investigation into all stamp duty adjudication cases processed between April 1, 2021, and March 31, 2026. Rather than an Internal Revenue Department inquiry, an independent task force will operate under the direct guidance of the AG, with the government providing manpower, resources and funding.

Bawankule said that if violations of the Stamp Act are found, guilty officials will face suspension, criminal charges and strict disciplinary action.

He cited a case involving Senior Clerk Rajkumar Dahifale, who registered over 941 documents within 10 days of taking charge as a Stamp Officer. These registrations allegedly violated the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act, 1966, resulting in a revenue loss of approximately Rs 13.91 crore.

A police case has already been registered, the officer suspended, and the government is moving toward dismissing him once the final inquiry report is received.

The minister emphasised that although the adjudication process in the stamp department is quasi-judicial, it must strictly follow the Stamp Act. He said a new SOP and administrative orders will be issued to register criminal cases against any official found engaging in illegal adjudication.

In a separate discussion on illegal minor mineral mining, raised by MLA Nana Patole, with MLA Bhaskar Jadhav participating, Bawankule said the government will set up a dedicated task force to combat the menace.

Addressing a delayed case at Sakhar Phata in Gadchiroli, he admitted to delays in securing permission to file a criminal complaint. To prevent future lapses, the Gadchiroli District Collector has been instructed to book perpetrators under the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities (MPDA) Act.

Under the Central Government’s mining scheme, District Collectors serve as chairpersons of district-level mining committees. Fresh directives will be issued to all Collectors to mandatorily conduct monthly review meetings, he added.

–IANS

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