The Times of India:Wednesday, January 11, 2012.
NAGPUR: Wisdom says look before leap and think before you speak. But it seems Vikas Thakre - former mayor and now leader of opposition in the NMC - conveniently ignored the age-old saying.
Thakre finds himself on the same side as mayor Archana Dehankar who is accused of misappropriating travel bills and causing loss to the treasury.
According to documents obtained under the right to information ( RTI) Act, Thakre was in Bangalore as well as New Delhi for three days at the same time. Thakre, who was mayor, claimed travel expenses for both his visits based on fake documents.
TOI had earlier exposed how some BJP leaders including Dehankar claimed travel expenses by submitting fake documents. Thakre, who has been very vociferous in attacking the BJP, surprisingly preferred not to react to the allegations.
In 2002, Thakre took charge as mayor. He forwarded a demand note to the NMC's general administration department to release 20,000 as tour advance to attend a three-day national conference on public governance in Bangalore from May 9, 2002.
The demand note mentioned that Thakre would take a flight to Bangalore from Nagpur via Mumbai. The conference was held at the National Institute of Advance Studies, IISC Campus. Thakre was accompanied by RH Lade, who is now Dehankar's PA.
After attending the conference, Thakre submitted tour expenditure bills. Subsequently, the GAD adjusted the 20,000 advance and paid an additional 2,718 to Thakre towards travelling and daily expenses.
On May 8, Thakre submitted a note sheet demanding 20,000 as tour advance to New Delhi, where he was to meet the then Maharashtra chief minister to discuss the development issues concerning the city on May 9.
He also informed that his personal assistant Sheshpal Hajari, who was then the assistant to MP and former union minister Vilas Muttemwar, would accompany him. The GAD sanctioned 20,000 as advance for his three-day tour.
Thakre returned on May 11, 2002 and submitted the bills of his New Delhi tour. Against the submission of bills, the GAD adjusted the advance and paid him an additional 2,206 against the bills.
The accounts and finance department adjusted the amount against Thakre's tour expenditure.
Though chief accounts and finance officer Madan Gadge refused to comment, a senior official confirmed the misuse of power by Thakre. As per the procedure, Thakre's signatures were taken on revenue stamp before the money was given.
Thakre, however, denied claiming travel bills for both the destinations. He said that he had cancelled the Bangalore trip following an urgent meeting with Maharashtra chief minister in New Delhi on May 9, 2002. But he failed to explain who claimed the money for his Bangalore trip.
BJP corporators, including Dehankar too were allegedly involved in a similar scam which was unearthed by TOI. Later, standing committee chairman Sandip Joshi ordered an inquiry. About the progress of the inquiry, Joshi said that it could not be completed due to the code of conduct coming into force.
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