Municipal Commissioner Radhakrishnan B was instructed to ask Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar for thorough investigation into stationery orders from all departments of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) that were issued during the time of Covid-19. First meeting of inquiry committee of corporators headed by Ruling Party Leader Avinash Thakre was held at Standing Committee Hall at civic body headquarters on Monday where the said instructions were issued. The meeting was held to frame the terms of inquiry to be conducted by Inquiry Committee of Corporators into alleged misappropriation of funds by civic body employees in league with suppliers of stationery to NMC. The administration on its own had set-up a three-member panel headed by Additional Municipal Commissioner Deepak Kumar Meena after the scam surfaced in Health Department of NMC.

 

The investigation is determining role of individuals in financial irregularities and also fixing the responsibility and identifying the shortcomings with a view to prevent such pilferage in future. An FIR was also lodged by NMC that has led to arrest of three civic body employees so far in the scam. During the meeting, Thakre said that since Health Department boss dared to raise his voice, the scam was exposed but there was talk that similar exercise was carried out in Birth and Death Registration Department and School Education Department. Hence Municipal Commissioner should ask Police Department to investigate all the departments of NMC so that truth can be ascertained. Besdies Thakre, the other members of Inquiry Committee are Tanaji Wanve, Leader of Opposition, Adv Sanjay Balpande, Sandeep Jadhav, Vaishali Narnawre, Corporation Secretary Dr Ranjana Lade, Assistant Legal Officer Prakash Barde and Suraj Parvache.

 

Thakre said police are no doubt investigating into the scam based on complaint from Health Department. However, in the General Administration Department, Education Department, Library, Birth and Death department, stationery scam of similar nature has also been perpetuated, he claimed. Therefore, transactions in these departments must also be investigated. During the meeting, issue of appointment of two more members was discussed at length and one among them will be a retired judge and a knowledgeable retired officer from the Finance Department. Regarding the appointment of retired judge, committee member Adv. Balpande said he will suggest the names in the next two days. Also, a list of officers who have retired in the last 5-6 years in the Finance Department has been requested from the Corporation Secretary. An officer at the level of Deputy Commissioner was appointed as the Secretary of the Committee to ensure confidentiality and fulfillment of documents required by the committee. This responsibility has been handed over to Municipal Corporation Deputy Commissioner Nirbhay Jain. The next meeting will be held in next two days, said Thakre.