FIR against politicians inaugurating projects without nod: BMC chief

The BMC’s move came after Tejasvi and Abhishekh Ghosalkar, who are former Shiv Sena corporators from the Thackeray faction, allegedly carried out a Bhoomipoojan of a swimming pool at their constituency in Dahisar. The civic body lodged an FIR against the Ghosalkar couple on May 4 for trespassing the swimming pool. Meanwhile, the Ghosalkars refuted the allegation stating that BMC’s move is the result of political pressure.

“It has come to my notice that some political/social activists illegally, without any permission from the BMC, have inaugurated some work executed by BMC. This is an extremely serious matter and must be dealt sternly and immediately,” read Chahal’s message.

“All the HODs are hereby instructed to file FIR against such individuals immediately without waiting for any instructions from the head office, if such instances re-occur in future and action taken report about the same be submitted to me,” Chahal’s message read. The message was sent last week-end.

Meanwhile, civic officials have said that the swimming pool was opened on April 1, following which the administration had appointed a contractor – Dahisar Sports Foundation — for maintaining the pool at a cost of Rs 26 lakh. The foundation is a trust and the Ghosalkar couple are trustees of this foundation along with Vinod Ghosalkar, former MLA.

“The contract agreement allowed only the contractor and his crew to be inside the premises of the pool. However, on April 30, the Ghosalkars who were the former corporators of this area, carried out an inauguration-type event inside the pool premises, without taking permission from BMC,” a civic official said. The Ghosalkars, meanwhile, lodged a counter complaint and have written to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stating that the BMC’s move was based on political vendetta.

“The pool was opened by the BMC on April 1, after that they had floated a tender for maintenance of this pool. Our foundation submitted their bids and since we were the lowest bidder, the work order was given to us and the possession was handed over to us for maintenance on April 25,” Abhishekh Ghosalkar said.

“Since April 25, we have been going to the pool regularly and nobody told us anything. On April 28, a local BMC officer approached us and told us to give them 5% of the monthly billing amount unofficially as a bribe to the BMC, even when there is no such clause in the tender. We refrained from giving in and later an FIR was lodged against us,” Abhisekh said.

Meanwhile, civic officials denied the claims of bribes. “If they have conviction on their claim, then they can approach the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB),” the official said.