PCMC probe recommends action against finance chief over Rs 60-crore bill scam

Pune: Municipal commissioner Vijay Suryawanshi informed the civic body’s general body on Friday that the final inquiry report into alleged irregularities within the accounts department has been submitted to the state govt for further action.

The 243-page report, prepared by a committee headed by an additional commissioner, was handed to the municipal commissioner on Wednesday. “The report was compiled based on concerns raised by the standing committee chairman. It has now been forwarded to the state govt, which will determine the appropriate course of action,” Suryawanshi said.

Sources within the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) told TOI that the report recommends disciplinary proceedings against chief accounts officer and director of finance, Pravin Jain. The investigation focused on the alleged violation of protocols in clearing bills worth approximately Rs60 crore for various civic projects.

The payments were purportedly cleared on March 30 without the mandatory approval from the standing committee or the general body. Following the initial controversy, commissioner Suryawanshi placed Jain on compulsory leave to ensure an unbiased investigation.

Earlier this month, Suryawanshi confirmed that procedural violations were identified in the clearance of payments for 14 specific works. A subsequent probe examined the department’s conduct over the last three years to determine if such lapses were systemic.

A senior PCMC official stated that while no major irregularities were found in bill clearances from the previous two years, the inquiry did uncover issues elsewhere. “Certain violations related to the corporation’s fixed deposits were identified, which resulted in financial losses for the civic body. These findings have been included in the final report,” the official noted.

The controversy was first sparked by standing committee chairman Abhishek Barne, who alleged that Jain had also changed the corporation’s bank accounts without following due process, further contributing to financial losses.

Since Jain is a state govt employee on deputation, the PCMC cannot initiate disciplinary action directly. Consequently, the municipal administration has formally recommended that the state govt take over the proceedings.

In a written defense submitted last month, Jain argued that the responsibility for verifying approvals lies with the respective department heads before they forward bills to the accounts department for final clearance.