Overview
- Ajit Pawar claims the Purandar Lift Irrigation Scheme was shown at Rs 330 crore despite evaluations placing it near Rs 220–230 crore.
- He alleges Rs 100 crore was added as 'party funds' and Rs 10 crore for officials, and says he rejected the file in 1999 when MKVDC was under his watch.
- He asserts that he retains signed documents supporting his account and that the inflated proposal was cancelled.
- BJP minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule criticized the allegation’s timing after about 25 years and said the statement was inappropriate.
- Former irrigation minister Eknath Khadse denied the charge and urged Pawar to produce the file, as the dispute plays into separate NCP and BJP contests for the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad civic polls without any independent verification reported.