The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has begun inquiries against three senior civic officials of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) after municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe allegedly wrote to the ACB. Sources in the ACB revealed that they are Prakash Kulkarni and Sanjay Pattiwar while the third one was simply identified as Rao.
The Thane unit of the ACB is conducting the inquiry. A source in the ACB confirmed the names of the officers and said that an open inquiry was initiated two days ago. “We had several communications with the NMMC office and after gathering sufficient evidence we have begun an open inquiry against the said three officers,” said an ACB officer.
The source added that the alleged disproportionate income of the three officers would be looked into. “We have begun our investigations and will be conducting house and property checks. Further action will be taken once investigations are complete,” said an ACB source.
An ACB officer revealed that the municipal commissioner had written to the Thane unit asking it to look into the disproportionate assets of the three officers. “We started inquiries after receiving the letter from Mr Mundhe. Our officers have started investigations,” said the senior officer.
Interestingly, two of the civic officials, Kulkarni and Pattiwar have been under the radar of Mr Mundhe since early this year. Kulkarni who was the deputy municipal commissioner (property) was suspended in May this year and Pattiwar, who was the additional municipal commissioner, was demoted to his original designation of medical officer health due to his alleged illegal activities. Pattiwar soon opted for a voluntary retirement service.
