Pune: Polytechnic Principals Fraudulently Occupy Govt. Accommodation, Extract Lakhs of Rupees
Pune, 23rd February 2023: Two government polytechnic college principals in Pune district have been accused of cheating the Maharashtra state administration by fraudulently occupying government accommodation and producing false travelling allowance and housing rent allowance bills. The allegations came to light six months ago when student organisations and social activists wrote to the joint director of the Directorate of Technical Education in Maharashtra. The state government has now ordered an investigation and action will be taken as per government rules.
It has been alleged that the principal of Government Polytechnic Awasari (GPA) in Ambegaon Taluka, DR Nandanwar, and the principal of Government Polytechnic Pune (GPP), Vitthal Bandal, have been cheating the government of lakhs of rupees by occupying government accommodation without permission and falsely producing TA and HRA bills.
Nandanwar, who was also holding the position of joint director of DTE, was given the additional charge of principal of GPA, while Bandal was made principal of GPP. Nandanwar then moved into the accommodation allocated to him in Awasari, while his family continued to live on the GPP campus. Bandal agreed to the arrangement and resided in his personal flat outside the campus. Nandanwar submitted an application requesting permission to continue using the GPP principal’s house to the joint director of DTE, i.e., himself, and the application was approved. Bandal, taking advantage of the situation, continued to produce TA and HRA bills.
Student organisations and social activists have demanded strict action against both principals for misusing their power and defrauding the government of lakhs of rupees. Nandanwar has claimed that prior permission was taken from the joint director’s office, while Bandal has refused to comment.
The city president of Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena, Amol Shinde, said that Bandal is expected to live in the quarters provided for him on the GPP campus, but has not done so since July 2019. He also cannot take benefit of HRA and TA if he does not live in the accommodation reserved for him. Shinde believes that the cases should be thoroughly investigated, and officials who defrauded the government of lakhs of rupees should face legal action.
Nandanwar has claimed that he obtained permission from the Pune divisional joint director’s office and the principal of GPP to use both houses with mutual consent and with the prior permission of higher authorities. However, Bandal has denied any knowledge of this and has declined to comment further.
Dattatray Jadhav, the Pune divisional joint director, has issued an order to both principals, and recovery will be made as per state government rules, with further action to be taken.
Join Punekar News Whatsapp Group, Telegram, Instagram And Twitter For Regular Update about Pune City And Pimpri-Chinchwad
