Pune: Katraj Dairy Under Scanner as Maharashtra Govt Orders Probe into Alleged Irregularities
Pune, 13th June 2026: The Maharashtra government has ordered an inquiry into alleged financial and administrative irregularities at the Pune District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union, popularly known as Katraj Dairy, following complaints regarding suspicious milk procurement figures, distribution of memberships in violation of rules, mounting liabilities, and the alleged free distribution of nearly 3,000 litres of milk for a religious event.
Acting on complaints received by the Dairy Development Department, the Pune Divisional Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies (Dairy) issued an order on June 11 constituting a two-member inquiry committee to investigate the allegations.
The committee will be headed by Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies (Dairy) Shrikant Shrikhande, with District Special Auditor (Class-II) Anant Chindhu Adhari serving as a member. The panel has been directed to submit a detailed report after examining the functioning of the dairy.
According to the order, the inquiry will focus on whether milk procurement was shown in the names of non-existent or inactive milk societies, whether irregularities occurred in milk transportation expenses, and whether cooperative bylaws were violated while granting memberships. The committee will also examine the reasons behind the dairy union’s increasing financial liabilities.
Particular attention will be paid to allegations that around 3,000 litres of milk were distributed free of cost for a religious programme. Investigators have been asked to verify whether the required approvals were obtained, whether the board of directors had passed the necessary resolutions, and whether the expenditure was incurred within the prescribed financial powers before receiving post-facto approval.
The complaints further allege that financial transactions were carried out by showing milk procurement through dubious cooperative societies. The committee will verify whether milk was actually collected from these societies or whether records were created only on paper.
The probe comes at a politically sensitive time for the cooperative, which has long been under the control of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The dairy union, like the Pune District Central Cooperative Bank, has been considered a key institution in the region’s cooperative sector.
Following the demise of senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar, the responsibility for overseeing the dairy’s affairs has increasingly been associated with NCP MP and his son Parth Pawar. Recently, Parth had chaired a meeting of the dairy union during which then chairman Swapnil Dhamdhere resigned from the post. Subsequently, Arun Chambhare was elected unopposed as chairman on June 12.
Notably, the inquiry order was issued less than 24 hours after Chambhare assumed office, presenting a fresh challenge for the newly constituted leadership.
The inquiry was triggered by a complaint filed on June 2 by Varun Jaysingh Bhujbal of Narayangaon in Junnar taluka before Maharashtra Dairy Development Minister Atul Save. Taking cognisance of the complaint, the minister reportedly directed the department to initiate immediate action.
As part of the investigation, the committee has been asked to conduct physical verification of milk collection centres, examine records of milk producers and member societies, scrutinise transportation and financial transactions, and inspect bank accounts, milk bills and digital records. It will also determine whether any societies existed only on paper and recommend action, including cancellation of registrations, if irregularities are established.
The findings of the inquiry are expected to have significant implications for one of Pune district’s most influential cooperative institutions and could reignite debate over transparency and governance in the cooperative sector.
