PCMC engineer cleared of charges

Singh, was suspended from service on September 4, 1997 a week after the income-tax department carried out simultaneous raids at his office in the main administrative building in Pimpri and at his residence in Nigdi-Pradhikaran on August 22. The simultaneous raids by the income-tax department gave rise to various speculations. The income-tax department, however, gave no details about its findings.

The departmental enquiry against Singh was first submitted to the enquiry officer, a retired desk officer of the Pune divisional commissionerate specially appointed by the corporation. However, within a few days, the process of enquiry was transferred from the retired officer and a retired secretary of the state revenue department Ashok Desai was asked to take over the probe. The enquiry was completed within six months and the interim report was submitted in the first week of February this year.

However, the proposal to reinstate Singh has been forwarded now, nearly two months after submission of the report. More eyebrows are being raised regarding the reinstatement, because, commissioner Ganesh Thakur has proceeded on a leave while PCNTDA executive officer B E Nagrale is now holding additional charge as municipal commissioner.