Pune: PMC Staff Protest Politicians Misconduct Inside; MNS, Congress, NCP Protest Outside PMC Over Missing Bungalow Items

Shivajinagar, 7th August 2025: After a confrontation between Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers and Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram yesterday, today a wave of protests, detention, and political backlash followed.

The flashpoint came yesterday MNS leader Kishor Shinde and his supporters visited the Commissioner’s office residence to hand over a memorandum concerning alleged missing items from the civic bungalow, a visit that allegedly turned hostile.

MNS claims the Commissioner reacted aggressively, reportedly threatening the delegation with violence. “I’ll beat you up for barging into my office,” he allegedly said.

Following the incident, a sit-in protest was staged by MNS workers. Police later detained Shinde and others, registering criminal cases against them.

Today, PMC officials and employees led by Deputy Commissioner Madhav Jagtap staged a silent protest on the lawns of the Pune Municipal Corporation headquarters. Donning black armbands, they expressed discontent over what they described as repeated instances of verbal abuse and misconduct directed at civic staff by political workers.

“The language used at the Commissioner’s office was highly inappropriate,” Jagtap stated, emphasizing that staff morale was being affected. He urged the implementation of a formal code of conduct for such interactions. “If this kind of behavior continues, we will be forced to respond with equal intensity,” he warned.

The core issue behind the altercation centers around the alleged theft of valuable items — including chandeliers, electronics, and decorative assets- from the official Commissioner’s bungalow in Model Colony. MNS and other opposition parties accuse PMC of brushing the matter under the carpet instead of launching a formal investigation.

Amid rains, leaders from MNS, Congress, and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) today gathered outside the PMC office to protest the administration’s handling of the issue. They accused civic authorities of shielding former Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Bhosale, who retired two months earlier and is suspected to be involved in the misappropriation of assets.

NCP City President Prashant Jagtap alleged that the previous Municipal Commissioner, Rajendra Bhosale, who retired two months ago, was behind the theft and that the current administration is protecting him. “When MNS delegation went to raise this issue, they were targeted. We demand an FIR against Rajendra Bhosale and a public apology for the false cases filed against MNS workers,” he said.

Echoing the sentiment, Congress City President Arvind Shinde slammed senior PMC officials for backing their predecessor. He also leveled corruption allegations against civic officer Prashant Waghmare, accusing him of clearing unauthorized construction projects worth ₹72 crore. “We want answers. When will action be taken against these corrupt officials?” he asked, calling for an impartial probe and the withdrawal of cases against opposition activists.