Pune: PCMC Clerk Fakes Deputy Commissioner’s Signature for NOCs

Reported By Varad Bhatkhande

Pimpri Chinchwad, 26th June 2024: A shocking incident has been uncovered in the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) where a female clerk forged the signature of a Deputy Commissioner to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC). It has been revealed that the NOC, essential for granting a license to a scrap shop, had signatures that were forged.

The woman clerk identified as Ashwamegha Wadagale works in the Skysign and License Department of PCMC, which handles licenses for both small and large industries, including scrap dealers in the city. Wadagale, who was responsible for issuing these licenses and NOCs, held the role of Licensing Inspector. Under her authority, licenses, renewals, and NOC certificates were issued to various industries and professionals across eight ward offices in the city. It came to light that Wadagale had issued these documents using a fake signature of the Deputy Commissioner, without obtaining the necessary approval from him.

She provided NOC certificates to a scrap dealer in Kudalwadi using the forged signature of Sandeep Khot, Deputy Commissioner of the Skysign and License Department. Acting on this NOC, the businessman submitted a proposal to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).

Discrepancies in the signatures on the proposal submitted to the MPCB alerted officials, who brought the matter to Deputy Commissioner Khot’s attention. Upon investigation, Khot confirmed that he had not signed all the four NOCs in question. Subsequent investigation revealed that Wadagale had forged his signature.

Sandeep Khot, Deputy Commissioner of PCMC’s Skysign and License Department, stated, “It has been discovered that the clerk forged my signature on four NOCs. This was uncovered upon reviewing the files. A notice has been issued seeking clarification, and a report has been forwarded to the administration for appropriate action. The clerk has been transferred to ‘D’ Ward.”