A state inquiry in Maharashtra has uncovered significant financial irregularities tied to the renovation of official bungalows allocated to Cabinet ministers, placing close to ₹30 crore under suspicion. The developments have set the stage for intense political confrontation, as the findings point toward serious misuse of taxpayer funds in what was officially described as routine maintenance work. Instead of small-scale repairs, investigators found evidence of inflated bills, unnecessary construction activity, and large-scale procedural violations, raising concerns about deliberate attempts to siphon off public money.
The investigation was conducted by the Nashik Vigilance and Quality Control Board under Superintending Engineer K.P. Patil. According to the inquiry, the renovation works were undertaken in a manner directly contradicting government rules. What should have been simple upkeep reportedly turned into extensive structural modifications without authorization. The project scope was also expanded through overpriced furniture purchases, repeated billing cycles, and tenders issued for work already completed in previous phases. These practices, the inquiry indicates, point toward a coordinated effort to generate financial gain through government-funded projects.
The report identifies personnel from the Public Works Department as key actors in the suspected misconduct. Engineers, staff, and administrative officers allegedly approved inflated project proposals, certified questionable bills, and bypassed procurement norms. Even though the investigative report recommended strict measures, including department-level disciplinary proceedings and formal charge sheets, the state administration has not removed any official from duty since the report was submitted in July. Instead, a review committee has been constituted to gather explanations from the officials who were named.
According to internal sources, bills totaling approximately ₹30 crore were raised for the renovations. A whistleblower, Venkatesh Patil, who lodged the complaint, claimed that contractors and PWD officials worked together to execute the scheme. He asserted that nearly sixty percent of the billed work exists only in documentation, with the remainder being heavily overpriced by around seventy percent. Patil has demanded scrapping all related tenders, suspending the officers involved, and recovering the financial losses. In his view, retaining those implicated in active service sends a signal of institutional tolerance toward fraudulent behavior.
Further scrutiny of tender records revealed instances of overlapping contracts for nearly identical tasks. A separate tender worth ₹1.05 crore was issued solely for painting works, despite such costs being expected to fall under the original renovation contract. This occurred specifically for bungalows situated near the Mantralaya, adding to the concerns about deliberate bill splitting. Scrutiny also extended to the official residence of Public Works Minister Ravindra Chavan, where repair tenders valued at ₹75 lakh and another ₹57 lakh for stationery supplies triggered attention. Another example surfaced at the ‘Torna’ bungalow, which received a ₹4.16 crore renovation allocation in March 2023, followed by a second tender for ₹4.64 crore less than a year later.
These findings suggest a pattern of repeated and inflated public expenditure covered under the guise of routine maintenance. Officials are expected to release more information as the case progresses, but pressure is mounting on the state government to take definitive action against those named. With political tensions rising and public accountability now in focus, the issue is poised to evolve into a major controversy in Maharashtra’s administrative and political landscape.
