NCP Pune City President Deepak Mankar Resigns After Fraud Case Filed

Pune, 13th May 2025: Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Pune City President Deepak Mankar has submitted his resignation following the registration of a fraud case against him. Mankar, a close aide of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, tendered his resignation to Pawar and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) State President Sunil Tatkare, requesting them to accept it in light of the ongoing legal developments.

Two days ago, Pune Police registered a case against Mankar for allegedly submitting forged documents in connection with a ₹1 crore financial transaction. The money was reportedly linked to a former NCP office bearer, currently under arrest in a rape case. With speculation around his possible arrest, Mankar stepped down from his post, citing concerns about the party’s image.

Mankar’s Resignation Letter Cites Political Defamation

In his resignation letter, Mankar detailed his decade-long association with the party and outlined his contributions since joining the NCP in 2012. He recalled being nominated for the Kasba Assembly seat in the 2014 elections and holding key positions including Corporator, Deputy Mayor, and City President.

Mankar also referenced the political split within the NCP in July 2023, when he aligned with Ajit Pawar’s faction and was appointed City President of the Pune unit on July 6, 2023. He claimed to have mobilized over 9,500 affidavits in support of the faction during the Supreme Court proceedings and expanded the party base in Pune by appointing more than 1,500 office bearers across various wings.

According to Mankar, his efforts included organizing over 200 public programs and setting a target of enrolling one lakh party members in Pune.

Allegations Denied, Claims of Political Vendetta

While denying the allegations, Mankar stated that the land deal in question involved his personal property and was lawful. He alleged that the fraud case was part of a conspiracy to damage his reputation ahead of the upcoming municipal elections.

“Some social elements are trying to defame me politically due to my rising profile,” he wrote, expressing concern that the controversy was hurting the party’s image. He maintained that no wrongdoing had occurred and called the charges baseless.

Mankar said he was stepping down in the larger interest of the party, though he insisted the allegations remain unproven.

Awaiting Response from Party Leadership

As of now, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and State President Sunil Tatkare have not officially responded to the resignation. It remains to be seen whether the leadership will accept Mankar’s departure or attempt to retain him amid the legal proceedings.

The incident comes at a sensitive time for the NCP’s Pune unit, which is preparing for the civic polls. The case and Mankar’s exit could potentially impact the party’s standing in the city.