Pune: Contractor Submitted Fake Employee List, Looted Funds, Alleges MPCC Leader Sanjay Balgude In Letter To PMC Commissioner Rajendra Bhosale

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) leader Sanjay Digambar Balgude wrote a letter to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Commissioner Rajendra Bhosale, alleging that a contractor appointed by the PMC for security services submitted fraudulent employee records, claiming that hundreds of security guards and labourers were deployed in Pune, while the actual workers were based in Mumbai. Despite this, the contractor received full payment from the civic body. The MPPC demanded an immediate and thorough investigation into the security tender process.

The letter mentions that the PMC currently operates with approximately 8,000 to 10,000 workers, including security personnel and sanitation workers under the contract. The salaries of these workers are paid directly by the PMC. However, Balgude claims the contractor created a bogus list of employees, enabling them to siphon off funds for non-existent or misrepresented staff.

Speaking to the Free Press Journal, Balgude said, "This is nothing short of an organised crime to loot the taxpayers' money. I believe that certain PMC officials are hand-in-glove with the contractor in this fraudulent activity. We put up complaints regarding this issue to the municipal authorities on October 18, 2024, and February 24, 2025, but no action was taken. A renewed appeal was also made on February 19, 2025. But only two days ago, PMC fined Rs 60 lakh to Eagle Security Services after our complaint, but we want the PMC officials to inquire about the other two security agencies named Singh and Sanik. We want Pune Municipal Commissioner and the Anti-Corruption Bureau to immediately initiate a comprehensive investigation, identify those responsible, and ensure that strict action is taken."

Deputy Commissioner Somnath Bankar Anti Encroachment Cell and Security, PMC said, "We have a total of 1,565 security guards who were hired through private agencies a year ago, and these security guards are deputed in shifts and at various locations, including the PMC main building, ward offices, hospitals, schools, gardens, crematoriums and auditoriums. I'll have to go through the documents, as tenders were given to them a year ago before I took charge."

Bankar also informed that a few days ago, PMC decided to hire a private agency to provide security to various civic buildings and facilities across the city at an expenditure of around Rs 150 crore.