<h1>Intermediary grilled over illegal 40-acre government land sale, suspected Rs 21 crore stamp duty exemption scam</h1> Police in Pune questioned an accused intermediary for over five hours in connection with an alleged illegal sale of 40 acres of government land, leased to the Botanical Survey of India, to a firm linked to a senior Maharashtra deputy chief minister's son. The Economic Offences Wing recorded an additional statement and collected further documents, including agreements and power of attorney papers. Other accused include the son's business partner and a suspended tehsildar alleged to have misused official powers by issuing eviction notices. An official inquiry report has indicted a sub-registrar and the two intermediaries, noting the illegal transaction and an alleged wrongful exemption of approximately Rs 21 crore in stamp duty.