PCMC commissioner orders probe into alleged 52-crore financial irregularities

Pune: Pimpri Chinchwad municipal commissioner Vijay Suryawanshi has ordered an inquiry into allegations of procedural violations involving the clearance of bills worth Rs52 crore. The move follows a formal complaint by standing committee chairman Abhishek Barne, who also alleged irregularities in the transfer of civic funds between bank accounts.In an order issued on Thursday, Suryawanshi stated that a large volume of payments for development works was processed between March 24 and March 31, 2026. "As per preliminary information, the matter appears to involve potential violations regarding budgetary control, financial discipline, and authorised approvals under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, 1949. A detailed and impartial inquiry is necessary," the commissioner stated.The probe will be headed by additional municipal commissioner Vijay Khorate. The committee also includes additional municipal commissioner Trupti Sandbhor, the chief auditor, and chief engineer. The deputy commissioner (vigilance) will serve as member secretary. The panel has been directed to submit its report within seven days.Abhishek Barne, in his letter to the commissioner, claimed that payments for over 70 projects were "processed in haste" without adhering to standard norms. He further alleged that the accounts department cleared these bills using signatures from unauthorised individuals and hinted that some signatures may have been forged.According to sources, the works in question primarily pertain to the water supply, BRT, and civic departments. Barne told TOI that senior officials in these departments were reportedly unaware of the clearances. He emphasised that such proposals typically require approval from the standing committee or the municipal commissioner—procedures he claims were bypassed.A senior PCMC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, added that the committee will also investigate whether similar practices were followed over the last three financial years. Furthermore, the panel will verify if the civic body suffered financial losses when shifting savings between banks by checking if competitive interest rates were sought from all nationalised banks.Chief accounts officer Pravin Jain has denied all allegations, maintaining that due process was followed. He explained that the funds had been sanctioned in the 2025–26 budget and that end-of-year bill clearing is a standard practice. "This ensures that allocated funds do not lapse and does not burden the subsequent year's budget," Jain said.In an official statement, Jain clarified that the payments were processed on March 30 following suggestions from corporators after a March 24 general body meeting, noting that public holidays had compressed the working timeline.Regarding bank transfers, Jain stated that PCMC's long-standing agreement with Bank of Baroda had expired in July 2024. Following an expression of interest where five nationalised banks applied, Bank of Maharashtra was selected for a three-year term in August 2024. He noted that this transition was approved by the standing committee and the general body while the commissioner was acting as administrator.Civic activist Vijay Kumbhar expressed doubt regarding the internal probe, calling such inquiries "delay tactics.""Similar irregularities exist across various PCMC departments. Corruption is an ongoing issue, and the newly appointed commissioner should conduct a comprehensive, independent probe into all such matters rather than isolated incidents," Kumbhar said.
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