Pune (Chinchwad) | A major financial irregularity has come to light at the civic-run Prof. Ramkrishna More Auditorium in Chinchwad, where alleged misappropriation and improper handling of rent and deposit collections amounting to over ₹50 lakh has been reported. The issue has triggered administrative action after months of delay, raising concerns over financial discipline within the civic system.
According to official information, Commissioner Dr Vijay Suryavanshi has issued show-cause notices to 10 clerical and administrative staff members, directing them to explain their role in the alleged mismanagement and deposit the recoverable amount. The total recoverable sum identified through audit stands at ₹50,70,626.
FCRF Academy Launches Premier Anti-Money Laundering Certification Program
The irregularities are reported to have occurred between 2018 and 2023–24, during which staff members posted at the auditorium’s sports and management division were responsible for handling bookings, collecting rent, and maintaining financial records. However, investigators found that proper documentation of events and corresponding revenue entries was not maintained consistently.
As per preliminary findings, rent collected from various programmes and events held at the auditorium was not deposited into the civic treasury for several years. In some cases, funds were allegedly diverted or retained without official accounting, leading to a significant revenue gap.
The internal audit further revealed discrepancies between the number of events conducted and the actual amount of money deposited. This mismatch triggered a deeper investigation, which eventually confirmed that lakhs of rupees collected over time were missing from official records.
The civic administration has stated that earlier proposals for disciplinary action were delayed due to administrative bottlenecks, but the matter was recently revived following a detailed review of audit findings. Acting on these inputs, the commissioner issued formal notices on April 30, instructing the concerned employees to respond within 10 days.
Those named in the notices include head clerks Kantilal Waghere, Umesh Bandal, Manoj Bhutkar (retired), and clerks Rahul Kakrothi, Abhishek Hinge, Sanket Jangam, Santosh Botre, Amar Nikhalje, Atul Kale, and Ashok Kengle.
Officials have alleged that during their tenure, systematic lapses occurred in maintaining financial transparency. Charges include failure to collect and deposit rental amounts properly, lack of record-keeping for programmes, and alleged mismanagement of auditorium assets.
According to additional commissioner Manoj Lonkar, “Irregularities, negligence, and misconduct were identified in the functioning of the auditorium, resulting in financial loss to the civic body. Show-cause notices have been issued for recovery of the amount, and explanations have been sought from the concerned employees.”
The administration has also ordered recovery proceedings, making the staff accountable for the losses. The development has sparked discussions within civic circles about monitoring mechanisms and internal audit effectiveness in public facilities.
Officials familiar with the matter said that the absence of a structured digital tracking system for bookings and payments contributed to the irregularities going unnoticed for years. In several cases, manual records were either incomplete or inconsistent with actual financial inflows.
The case has now raised broader concerns about governance in revenue-generating civic assets, particularly auditoriums, sports complexes, and public halls, where cash-based transactions remain common.
While the investigation continues, authorities are also examining whether similar discrepancies exist in other civic-run facilities. The administration is reportedly considering stricter digital payment systems and centralized monitoring to prevent recurrence of such financial lapses.
The incident has highlighted the need for stronger accountability mechanisms within municipal operations, especially where public revenue collection is involved. Civic officials have indicated that further action, including recovery orders and possible departmental proceedings, will depend on the responses submitted by the accused employees.
The case continues to be under review, with authorities emphasizing that recovery of public funds remains the top priority.
