Rs 2,000 Crore Assets Case: Bombay High Court Revives ACB Probe Against Former PMC City Engineer Prashant Waghmare
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 5th April 2026: In a significant ruling aimed at curbing corruption in public office, the Bombay High Court has quashed orders passed by the Pune Municipal Commissioner that had previously blocked an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) probe into allegations of disproportionate assets worth ₹2,000 crore against former City Engineer Prashant Waghmare.
The Division Bench, comprising Justice A.S. Gadkari and Justice Ranjitsinha Raja Bhonsale, delivered the judgment on April 2, 2026, describing the Municipal Commissioner’s interference in the investigative process as “shocking” and an “abuse of the process of law.”
The Genesis of the Case
The matter originated from a complaint filed on May 18, 2016, by Tanaji Balasaheb Gambhire. The petitioner alleged that Prashant Madhukar Waghmare, while serving as the City Engineer and Head of the Building Permission Department at the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), had amassed assets totaling approximately ₹2,000 crore.
The complaint stated that Waghmare, aided by his wife and brother, routed corrupt earnings through various construction companies and misused his official position to protect illegal constructions and manipulate Transferable Development Rights (TDR) in Pune.
The Investigative Roadblock
Following the complaint, the ACB Pune conducted a “discreet enquiry.” The Enquiry Officer reported total non-cooperation from Waghmare, noting that he refused to provide details regarding his son’s education expenses, overseas trips, bank deposits, and shares in family-owned companies.
In January 2019, the ACB sought “prior approval” from the Municipal Commissioner (the Competent Authority) under Section 17(A) of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act to conduct an open enquiry. However, on April 16 and April 25, 2019, the then-Municipal Commissioner rejected the ACB’s request, effectively exonerating Waghmare after conducting a private hearing.
Stinging Remarks by the High Court
The High Court Bench pulled up the Municipal Commissioner for “usurping” the powers of the investigating agency. Key findings in the judgment include:
- Misapplication of Law: The Court ruled that Section 17(A) of the PC Act—which requires prior approval for investigating decisions made in the discharge of official duties—does not apply to cases of disproportionate assets, bribery, or fraud.
- “Mini-Trial”: The Bench observed that the Commissioner exceeded his jurisdiction by conducting a “mini-trial” and deciding the case on its merits at the preliminary stage.
- Protection of Officers: The Court noted that the Commissioner’s actions appeared to be an “overzealous attempt” to protect a subordinate officer and thwart an independent investigation.
The Ruling
The Court has set aside the Commissioner’s orders from 2019 and all subsequent orders that had closed the enquiry. This effectively allows the ACB to proceed with its investigation into Waghmare’s assets in accordance with the law.
The Court granted a two-week stay on the implementation of this judgment to allow the Respondent (PMC/Waghmare) to challenge the decision before the Supreme Court.
