Pune: Maharashtra Olympic Association Secretary Booked for Alleged Financial Irregularities
Pune, 29th October 2025: The Pune Police have registered a case against Maharashtra Olympic Association (MOA) General Secretary Namdev Shirgaonkar for alleged financial irregularities after he failed to submit account details of government funds provided for various national games.
The complaint was lodged by Sandeep Uttamrao Bhondve, Working President of the Maharashtra State Wrestlers’ Association, following repeated reminders from the Directorate of Sports and Youth Services.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (Economic Offences Wing) Vivek Masal, the case was filed after Shirgaonkar did not submit the required financial statements even after the deadline set by the state government had expired.
In his complaint, Bhondve stated that the Maharashtra Olympic Association, which functions as the apex sports body in the state and is affiliated with the Indian Olympic Association, had allegedly diverted funds through organizations formed by Shirgaonkar’s close associates and relatives. “This appears to be a deliberate attempt to misuse government funds meant for sports development and national-level events,” Bhondve alleged.
The Maharashtra government had sanctioned a total of Rs 12.45 crore to the MOA for participation in different National Games — including Rs 3.5 crore for the Goa National Games (October 2023) and Rs 4.95 crore for the Uttarakhand National Games (January 2025). However, officials said that Shirgaonkar has not submitted any detailed expenditure reports to the Directorate of Sports and Youth Services despite multiple reminders.
On September 26, the Directorate had issued a show cause notice directing Shirgaonkar to submit the accounts by October 3, but he failed to comply.
Amid growing discontent, members of the Maharashtra State Wrestlers’ Association, led by Bhondve, staged a protest outside the Pune Police Commissionerate on Monday (October 27) demanding a police case and a detailed investigation into the alleged financial irregularities.
Following the protest and submission of evidence, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) registered an FIR and initiated an investigation. Police officials said further financial scrutiny and document verification will be conducted to trace the alleged misuse of funds.
