BJP Committed to Curbing Irregularities in Municipal Work : Shatrughan Kate

Pimpri : Amid the controversy surrounding alleged financial irregularities of ₹52 crore in the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), BJP city president and corporator Shatrughan Kate has asserted that curbing wrongdoing in civic administration remains a core principle of the party.

Addressing the issue, Kate clarified that the alleged irregular payments were processed by officials from the accounts department through improper procedures. He stated that neither contractors nor elected corporators were responsible, but rather certain officials had misused their authority. BJP representatives in the civic body took an aggressive stance and exposed the matter, he added.

The controversy erupted after Standing Committee Chairman Abhishek Barne highlighted the issue and demanded action. Meanwhile, Chief Accounts and Finance Officer Pravin Jain allegedly attempted to mislead the media. However, the municipal law department issued a written opinion stating that payments must mandatorily receive approval from both the Standing Committee and the general body, thereby exposing procedural lapses.

Kate further stated that Pimpri-Chinchwad citizens had entrusted the BJP with power for a second consecutive term, and the party would not allow that trust to be compromised. He also appealed to opposition parties not to politicize the issue, noting that some sub-proposals bore signatures from corporators across parties.

In a related development, Pravin Jain has been sent on compulsory leave pending further action.