PUNE, Oct 29: The two-men inquiry committee, probing the allegations made by former municipal commissioner Arun Bhatia against the Pune Municipal Corporation, has reportedly sought information on refreshment allowance and conveyance allowance of the office-bearers.Highly placed sources told The Indian Express that the investigating team has sought detailed information from the office of the municipal secretary about the legal provision of the vehicles being used by the office-bearers, conveyance allowance and refreshment allowance of the office-bearers like mayor, deputy mayor, standing committee chairman, leader of the opposition and leader of the house. They have reportedly asked for legal provision and also the amount spent on these accounts.The investigating team's decision assumes significance since Bhatia had curtailed conveyance and refreshment allowances of all the office-bearers when he was the municipal commissioner. Bhatia had even stopped all the facilities being extended to the leader of the opposition and leader of the house, stating that both the posts were not statutory.The sources said the government officials have also demanded detail information on the alleged recruitment of about 1000 employees at the recommendation of corporators and office-bearers. Besides, information on suspended assistant municipal commissioner Hanumant Chavan has also been sought. Chavan was suspended by Bhatia for showing favour to a particular party while assessing the tax thereby causing financial losses to the civic body. Bhataia had even lodged a police complaint against Chavan.According to sources, the tax assessment department is preparing a detailed note on its performance which would be submitted to the investigating officers tomorrow. The information from internal auditor Ambrish Galinde was also demanded by the team on his department's work.Earlier, Municipal Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad conducted a special meeting of heads of the departments which was also attended by one of the investigating officers. Gaikwad instructed them to submit the information required by the team.
