Rs 310-crore Beed land scam probe widens to benami assets, kin of ex-collector under scanner

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The probe into the alleged Rs 310-crore land acquisition compensation scam linked to the Dhule-Solapur national highway has widened, with investigators examining the financial transactions, assets, and suspected benami properties of former Beed collector Avinash Pathak and his associates, the police said.Pathak, a senior IAS officer, was arrested on Thursday from his Latur residence and is in police custody till May 15 in connection with alleged irregularities in 154 enhanced compensation cases cleared between March 1 and April 17, 2025."We are investigating financial aspects, purchases of movable and immovable assets by the accused, his family members, and any benami properties acquired from embezzled funds. We are also probing the involvement of others in the conspiracy," Beed superintendent of police Navneet Kanwat said.The scam, unearthed by incumbent collector Vivek Johnson, is suspected to involve a wider network, including officials from the revenue department and possibly the district treasury office. Investigators are trying to establish how compensation amounts were processed, identify beneficiaries of the enhanced payouts, and trace possible kickbacks routed through intermediaries or linked assets.The police have already arrested three revenue department employees, including contractual staff, and are tracking the money trail of around Rs 73 crore flagged in suspicious transactions. Investigators are examining whether portions of the funds reached senior officials.SIT investigation officer and additional SP Venkatram said a detailed interrogation plan has been prepared for Pathak, with both written and oral questioning underway during custodial interrogation. Missing land acquisition files cleared during his tenure have emerged as a key challenge, with recovery of documentary evidence now a priority.Searches have been conducted at locations linked to Pathak in Beed, Latur, and Pune, with the accused accompanying police teams during some operations.Officials said property records are being scrutinised in coordination with registrars and other govt departments, while financial transactions involving relatives and close associates are also under verification.The police indicated that more individuals may be questioned as the investigation progresses.