Mira-Bhayandar: A brazen attempt to hoodwink the system has backfired spectacularly! Kanchan Gaikwad, the former high-ranking Assistant Commissioner and Public Information Officer (PIO) of Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) Ward Committee No. 4, has been slapped with a hefty ₹1 lakh fine for a shocking act of deceit.
The Maharashtra State Information Commission (Konkan Bench) uncovered her audacious move to provide fabricated, backdated information to RTI crusader Santosh Tiwari, who was digging into the murky details of an allegedly illegal construction scandal involving the notorious Ravi Group.
Tiwari's relentless pursuit of truth began in 2021-22, seeking crucial repair permissions for the dilapidated New Mira Paradise Society in Geeta Nagar, a building long suspected of flouting regulations with unauthorized floors and lacking essential clearances since its 1991 inception.
Whispers of cozy relationships between builders, officials, and political heavyweights shielding this and other dubious constructions have long plagued the corruption-ridden MBMC. The Ravi Group, already notorious for alleged revenue theft and facing accusations of cheating prominent figures, found itself at the center of this RTI storm.
Gaikwad's initial stonewalling of Tiwari's legitimate information requests triggered a series of appeals. Despite a clear order from the First Appellate Authority in January 2022 demanding the information be released within 15 days, Gaikwad remained defiant, leaving Tiwari with no choice but to escalate his battle to the State Information Commission.
THE BOMBSHELL HEARING!
The climax arrived during a tense hearing on January 30, 2025 at Maharashtra State Information Commission (Konkan Division). Gaikwad, by then conveniently transferred, faced Tiwari's unwavering accusations.
The RTI activist laid bare how Gaikwad not only ignored the initial 30-day deadline but also brazenly disregarded the First Appellate Authority's explicit instructions.
Taking cognizance of the seriousness of the matter, the State Information Commissioner issued a show-cause notice to Gaikwad, seeking an explanation as to why punitive action should not be taken against her under the Right to Information Act.
But the real shocker unfolded during the subsequent hearing on March 13, 2025. Gaikwad attempted to wriggle off the hook by submitting a written response claiming the documents were ready in January 2022 but overlooked.
However, Tiwari, a seasoned RTI veteran, spotted a glaring inconsistency – the very letter presented as proof contained a reference to a Commission hearing notice dated February 21, 2025! This smoking gun exposed Gaikwad's desperate attempt to create a backdated alibi after receiving the Commission's show-cause notice. Tiwari even alleged the dispatch number on the letter was a complete fake.
TEARS AND DENIAL, BUT JUSTICE PREVAILS!
Cornered and exposed, Gaikwad reportedly broke down in tears, pleading for forgiveness and expressing fears for her administrative future. Some even suggested Tiwari show leniency. But State Information Commissioner Shekhar Channe was unmoved.
Branding her actions as a deliberate attempt to mislead the commission with forged documents, he slapped her with the maximum penalty of ₹1 lakh – ₹25,000 for each of the four appeals. This hefty sum will be clawed back from her salary in five installments.
DEPARTMENTAL DRAGNET CLOSES IN!
The fallout doesn't end with the financial penalty. Commissioner Channe has ordered the MBMC Commissioner to launch a full-fledged departmental inquiry against Gaikwad, demanding a comprehensive action report within six months.
Meanwhile, the current Assistant Commissioner and PIO for Ward 4, Sudhakar Lendve, has been summoned to appear before the Commission on April 29, 2025, to prove compliance with the long-delayed RTI disclosures, with the threat of further penalties looming.
SHOCK PROMOTION AFTER EXPOSURE!
In a bizarre twist that has left many aghast, just days after her deception was laid bare, Gaikwad received a promotion and was transferred to Akola district on March 20, 2025, as the Chief Officer of Hivarkhed Municipal Council.
This eyebrow-raising move has fueled speculation about potential protection and raises serious questions about the state government's stance on such blatant misconduct. Whether the MBMC will be able to bring her back for the mandated departmental probe remains a crucial point of contention.
"From forged sale agreements and unauthorized floor additions to revenue theft and NOC violations – the Ravi Group's construction at Survey No. 531 and 64(1) stands as a glaring symbol of Mira Bhayandar’s unchecked corruption, where builders, officials, and political links form an unbreakable golden chain, and RTI appeals expose what cover-ups try to bury," declared a determined Tiwari, vowing to continue his fight for transparency.
The next hearing is scheduled for April 29, 2025.
