AAP Demands FIR Over Tree Felling Near PCMC Headquarters
Raviraaj Kale alleges manipulation of tree authority report; announces ‘Tree Funeral March’ on October 22
Pimpri : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has demanded that criminal cases be registered against the builder and civic officials allegedly involved in the felling of more than 52 old trees near the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) headquarters.
Raviraaj Baban Kale, Maharashtra State Youth Wing president of AAP, has alleged that the age and number of trees were deliberately understated in official documents to facilitate illegal tree felling and allegedly benefit developer Sukhwani Associates financially by more than Rs. 1.5 crore.
Kale has accused PCMC garden superintendent Mahesh Gargote and official Rajesh Wasave of allegedly altering the original report of the Tree Authority to mislead the committee chairman and the public. These allegations are yet to be independently established.
Demanding strict action, AAP has called for the immediate registration of FIRs against the developer and the officials allegedly responsible for manipulating the report. The party has also sought cancellation of the construction permission allegedly obtained by misleading the authorities.
According to the party, a penalty of approximately Rs. 1.52 crore should be recovered for planting 1,018 trees, calculated at Rs. 15,000 per tree. AAP has further demanded the immediate suspension of Gargote and Wasave and a detailed departmental inquiry into the entire matter.
Kale alleged that despite bringing the issue to the attention of the Additional Municipal Commissioner, no concrete action had been taken so far. He questioned whether the lack of action indicated possible lapses at multiple levels of the civic administration.
To protest against the alleged irregularities and environmental damage, AAP and the Maharashtra State Youth Wing will organise a ‘Tree Funeral March’ on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 3 pm. The march will begin at the site where the alleged illegal tree felling took place and proceed towards the PCMC headquarters’ outer gate.
Appealing to environmental activists, social workers and citizens to join the protest, Kale said those responsible for the alleged illegal tree felling must face criminal action. “Stop tree felling, save nature,” the party said, reiterating its demand for accountability and a transparent investigation into the matter.
