Bhagyashree Phodkar
THE shocking truth stands revealed. Officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have filed an affidavit before the RTI commission saying that there is no record available of action on a Chembur tabela. Earlier, the ward officer was punished with a fine of Rs 50,000 and disciplinary action for not giving information under RTI in the matter.
On March 19, 2012, around 5.45pm, M/East ward officer Amit Dave, executive engineer Sunil Madne, assistant engineer (B/F) Ram Kadam, junior engineer Yuvraj Phadtare and sub-engineer Jagdish Rokde visited Anand Singh’s tabela at Aziz Baugh, Mahul Road, Chembur. They were accompanied by Rajesh Sharma, Gaurav Sharma, Manikchand Dubey, Daljit Singh, Gurdeep Singh and five more persons whose identity is not known. Anand Singh inquired about the reason for visiting the tabela, and ward officer Amit Dave replied: “Joint inspection.” Anand Singh told him that his opponent Rajesh Sharma cannot enter the tabela as per the Bombay High Court instructions. Executive engineer Sunil Madne replied that he did not care about the High Court order.
“Maine un logon ko bataya ki High Court ka order hai ki Sharma tabela par nahin aa sakta. Iss par Madne ne kaha ki High Court ka order apne paas rakh. Aur jyada bolega to thonk denge,” said Anand Singh.
A heated argument ensued between them. Rajesh Sharma and others attacked Anand Singh, giving him a fractured left-hand thumb. Anand Singh approached the RCF police station but officers there registered a cross-FIR. On complaint of Anand Singh, the police registered an FIR (copy available with ABI) under sections 143, 147, 149, 325, 447, 427 and 504 of IPC against Daljit Singh Kamboj, Gurudeep Singh, Rajesh Sharma and Gaurav Sharma.
BMC officials witnessed the entire incident. On a complaint by Daljit Kamboj, the police registered an FIR under sections 143, 147, 149, 355, 323, 504 and 506 of IPC against Anand Singh, Dharmendra Singh, Narendra Singh, Shrish Singh, Manish Singh and Ashish Singh. The joke is that at the time of the incident Narednra Singh was present at the BMC headquarters! His mobile location and a BMC entrance pass proved it.
Anand Singh had sought information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act from the BMC about who had complained against the tabela and on whose order had the officials arrived for the inspection. He also wanted to know if officials had issued any kind of notice or summons to him or maintained a register before visiting the spot. Officials ignored Anand’s application. Anand Singh appealed before State Information Commissioner (SIC) Ratnakar Gaikwad, who punished with a fine of Rs 50,000 and ordered disciplinary action against A G Naik, Assistant Engineer of M/East ward of BMC.
On May 9, 2016, ABI (abinet.org) published an article under headline ‘Rs 50,000 fine and disciplinary action against BMC officer for not giving information under RTI’.
SIC also demands affidavit from the BMC officer. On May 4, 2016, A G Naik gave an affidavit that there was no record available in the BMC office about action or inspection of the tabela. An affidavit copy is available with ABI (Akela Bureau of Investigation).