The Thane Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case against the chief accounts officer of the Kulgaon-Badlapur Municipal Council for allegedly demanding a 6% bribe to clear pending road work bills and security deposits.
Details of the Case
The accused, Vikas Chavan, was booked following a complaint lodged by a contractor. According to officials, the complainant's firm had secured tenders for 77 development works within the municipal council area, with several projects currently in progress. Among these, payments amounting to Rs 17.44 lakh for two work bills and Rs 4.99 lakh towards a security deposit from earlier work — totalling Rs 22.43 lakh — had been credited to the contractor's account. The complainant alleged that Chavan demanded 6% of this amount, equivalent to Rs 1.34 lakh, as illegal gratification for releasing the payments.
Complaint and Verification
The contractor submitted a written complaint to the Anti-Corruption Bureau in Mumbai on December 9, 2025. A verification process conducted on December 10 confirmed the demand for a commission as graft for clearing dues. Based on these findings, a case was registered against Chavan on April 30 under the Prevention of Corruption Act at Badlapur East police station. Repeated attempts to contact Chavan for comment went unanswered as his phone remained switched off.
Official Response
Kulgaon-Badlapur Municipal Council's chief officer, Maruti Gaikwad, confirmed the development and stated that Chavan had been relieved from duty approximately one month ago. He added that the matter would be communicated to the officer's parent department for further action.
Background of Allegations
Notably, allegations had surfaced a few months ago suggesting that contractors were being asked to pay a percentage of their dues to secure bill clearances. At the time, an internal inquiry was initiated but later subsided. With the registration of the present offence and details emerging from the probe, discussions have resurfaced within civic circles. Many see this as a confirmation of the alleged "percentage system" operating within the council.
