Round 2: Mayor files police plaint against Mundhe, 2 others

Nagpur: Mayor Sandip Joshi and ruling party (BJP) leader Sandip Jadhav lodged a complaint on Monday at Sadar police station against municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe and two officials of the Smart City special purpose vehicle. They alleged that the three have committed violations in the operation of the Nagpur Smart and Sustainable City Development Corporation Limited (NSSCDCL).
Refuting all allegations, Mundhe said it is a pre-planned continuation of his “character assassination and an attempt to make me fall in line as per their wish”.
Joshi and Jadhav are nominee directors of NSSCDCL. On Sunday, Joshi had released a letter he had written to Mundhe in which he had made many allegations.
At a press conference after filing the complaint, Joshi said Mundhe was never appointed by the board of directors (BoD) as either director or CEO of NSSCDCL. “The BoD’s permission is required to become authorized signatories. Mundhe, chief accounts and finance officer Mona Thakur, and accounts officer Amruta Deshkar forged documents and gave powers to the civic chief, who released mobilization amount of around Rs20 crore to two private companies. TDS and GST were not deducted. Also, Rs57 lakh was given to another company and later taken back,” he said.
Mundhe claimed that as commissioner he is the ex officio director of NSSCDCL. “I am authorized to work as CEO on orders issued by chairman Praveen Pardeshi. Whoever becomes CEO, s/he automatically becomes an authorized signatory,” he said.
According to the civic chief, he signed the bills for “disbursement” only after clearance from engineers and finance department. “This can be discussed at a BoD meeting. I have asked Pardeshi to hold one,” said Mundhe.
Joshi also accused Mundhe of sacking 12-13 employees without notice. “He also deducted Rs2,500 from the salaries of all towards the CM Relief Fund. Three employees had objected to it,” said Joshi. According to Mundhe, no objections were raised before deduction.
Further, Joshi said Mundhe cancelled a tender worth Rs42 crore for the BoD-approved garbage transfer stations and floated a tender of Rs50 crore for bio mining. To this, Mundhe said, “I had consulted the chairman. As CEO, decisions taken were in the interest of the company.”
Joshi said he decided to file a police complaint as letters to Mundhe and Pardeshi went unanswered. “Its an unfortunate situation in NMC’s history,” he said.
On Joshi and Jadhav filing a police complaint, Mundhe said, “They seem desperate to malign and demoralize me, and my team.”
DCP Vinita Sahu told TOI that the complaints are of “procedural lapses” and not “misappropriation of funds”. “We will seek legal advice before taking further steps,” she said.
Sources in the police department said Joshi's complaint is to the tune of crores and may be referred to some specialized unit at a later stage.
On Saturday, Mundhe had walked out of a NMC general body after corporator Harish Gwalbanshi alleged he was a blot on the name of Tukaram. While saying that no one supports the remark, Joshi said, “I request Mundhe to attend the meeting on Tuesday.”
Joshi has appointed a committee, led by standing committee chairman Vijay Zalke, to conduct an inquiry on the alleged violations of converting a market building to a dedicated Covid health centre at KT Nagar. The report will be tabled on Tuesday.
President of Jai Jawan Jai Kisan NGO Prashant Pawar said that netas are targeting administrators who are doing a good job. “The citizens will protest in front of the houses of politicians. Mundhe should expose their irregularities at the general body meet,” he said.
CHARGES AGAINST MUNDHE, 2 OTHERS
* Not authorized signatories
* Released mobilization amount of around Rs20 crore to 2 pvt companies without sanction
* Sacked employees without notice
* Deducted contribution to CM Relief Fund without permission
* Cancelled approved orders