Pune: PMC Staff to Strike on August 7 After MNS Leaders Insult PMC Commissioner

Pune, 6th August 2025: Tension gripped Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) premises today after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers staged a protest outside Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram’s cabin over the alleged disappearance of expensive items from his official bungalow. The protest ended with police detaining several MNS workers, and PMC employees have announced a day-long work stoppage on Wednesday (August 7) in response to the incident.

The controversy began when MNS leader Kishore Shinde and a delegation visited the commissioner’s office to submit a memorandum seeking a probe into the reported theft of chandeliers, televisions, AC units, and other expensive items from the commissioner’s bungalow in Model Colony. However, a heated verbal exchange reportedly broke out between the commissioner and the MNS delegation.

Shinde alleged that Naval Kishore Ram used threatening language during the confrontation. “We only wanted to submit a letter regarding the missing items. But the commissioner shouted, ‘Who are you? Get out!’. This kind of behavior is not befitting a public servant,” Shinde told reporters. “We demand a case be filed against him,” he added.

Following the verbal spat, MNS workers sat on a protest outside the commissioner’s cabin, which disrupted normal functioning within the PMC for over an hour. The police later arrived and detained the protesters. A case has also been registered against them.

Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram denied the allegations, stating, “Three or four people entered during an ongoing meeting without prior notice. I do not know how they managed to enter. They started arguing. I did not threaten anyone. The sudden intrusion raised a security concern.”

He added that the matter of missing items from the bungalow would be thoroughly investigated and legal action will be taken if necessary.

Senior MNS leaders including Babu Vagaskar and Ranjit Shirole also joined the protest and participated in discussions with the commissioner before the police intervened.

The incident has sparked a wave of unrest within the municipal workforce, with several employees expressing solidarity with the commissioner. As a mark of protest against the incident, PMC employees have called for a one-day work stoppage on August 7.

The PMC has so far maintained silence on the missing items and no official complaint has been registered yet. However, with both political and administrative tempers flaring, the matter is likely to snowball into a larger controversy unless resolved promptly.