₹111 Crore Embezzlement Bid: NCP Leader Demands Probe, Questions Govt. Accountability
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Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Rohit Pawar has called for a thorough investigation into a suspected attempt by Public Works Department (PWD) officials to embezzle ₹111 crore from contractors' security deposit accounts in Palghar district. According to officials, a PWD employee allegedly attempted to siphon off the funds by submitting a request for a demand draft at a nationalised bank. However, bank staff flagged the high-value transaction, and senior officers denied issuing the cheque, citing a lack of authorisation. This incident has raised serious concerns about the functioning and accountability of the state bureaucracy. Pawar, an NCP general secretary, has questioned whether the government has control over its own departments. He has also demanded a criminal case against the officials involved and a review of mechanisms governing security deposits to prevent such incidents. The PWD has initiated an internal inquiry and filed a police complaint after the employee who submitted the cheque went missing. Executive Engineer Nitin Bhoye commended the alertness of bank staff and PWD officials, stating that a major financial loss was prevented. Pawar's concerns are further compounded by the fact that many contractors are struggling to survive due to unpaid bills worth nearly ₹90,000 crore. He has warned that if the government fails to act decisively, it will be seen as giving silent approval to such financial irregularities.
