BMC vehicles sold as scrap,corporators smell a rat

Arguing that this resulted in financial losses to the civic body,the corporators also wrote to Municipal Commissioner Subodh Kumar seeking Rokade’s suspension.

Ansari said Rokade had auctioned 3,186 scrap vehicles allegedly in connivance with scrap dealers. “The advertisement of the auction was given in a very small local newspaper because of which other scrap dealers were not aware of it,” Ansari said.

Rokade,however,said the procedure was followed in the auctioning process and that the BMC had got a better price for the vehicles than it had expected. “The allegations are a result of personal enmity between the corporator and the party which purchased the scrap. We were expecting Rs 1 crore as per the current market value,but we got much more than that. I will prepare a report and submit it to the Commissioner,” he said.

Sangle said the scrap dealer who got the deal had come armed to the auction venue at Dinanath Mangeshkar Auditorium in Vile Parle on June 19. “He was accompanied by goons and threatened other bidders. We have a CD recording which shows Rokade trying to pacify the man and negotiating with him. Scrap material worth Rs 15 crore was sold for Rs 1.4 crore. Some scrap vehicles were sold for as less as Rs 300. I have written to the Commissioner asking for the cancellation of this auction and issuing new tenders. I have also sought an inquiry against Rokade and strict action against him if he is found guilty,” said Sangle.

Rokade,who has earlier served as the deputy commissioner of police in the Maharashtra Police and as a range forest officer in the state forest department,has been with the BMC for over 10 years. He was recently shifted as DMC from the gardens department to the encroachments removal department.