Government Medical College Karad Financial Irregularities: Assembly Probe Announced, Action Still Missing
Sprouts News investigation exposed serious financial irregularities at Government College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Karad, revealing procurement and inventory discrepancies. Despite Assembly-announced EOW inquiry and top-level directives, no FIR, audit, or concrete administrative action has followed so far.
Karad–Satara:
Serious financial irregularities at the Government College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Karad, have triggered statewide attention after an investigation exposed alleged misuse of public funds within the institute’s store department.
The case emerged after documentary scrutiny revealed inconsistencies in procurement, inventory management, and payment procedures, raising questions about accountability, oversight failures, and delayed administrative action despite official assurances.
Documents reviewed during the probe indicate that transactions undertaken during the tenure of fraudster storekeeper D. A. Kamble show mismatches between purchase orders, bills, vouchers, stock registers, and physical inventory.
Officials familiar with the records say such discrepancies are not isolated clerical errors but appear across multiple financial years, suggesting deeper systemic lapses in internal controls and supervisory mechanisms.
The institution, operating under the Higher and Technical Education Department, receives substantial government grants annually, primarily intended for student training, laboratory equipment, and essential academic infrastructure development.
Any diversion or mismanagement of these funds directly impacts educational quality, regulatory compliance, and public trust in state-run professional institutions, according to senior academics and finance experts.
Assembly Assurance, EOW Inquiry, and Administrative Silence
The issue reached the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly during the budget session when MLA Mahesh Shinde raised a formal motion seeking clarity on alleged financial misconduct at the Karad college.
Responding on record, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil announced that the Economic Offences Wing would conduct a detailed inquiry into the allegations raised on the Assembly floor.
Video footage of the minister’s statement is publicly available, confirming that the announcement was not informal but part of official legislative proceedings and parliamentary assurance.
Subsequently, sources indicate that the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister issued directions to the concerned department for immediate follow-up and necessary procedural action.
However, months after these high-level instructions, no visible progress has been reported regarding seizure of records, registration of an FIR, or initiation of a special audit.
Senior bureaucrats, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledge that delays in financial crime probes weaken deterrence and risk evidence dilution, especially in cases involving document-heavy procurement processes.
The absence of action has prompted questions about whether institutional inertia, administrative pressure, or political considerations are obstructing the promised investigation.
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Public Interest, Political Questions, and Demand for Accountability
Experts emphasise that this case extends beyond an individual official and concerns the safeguarding of taxpayer-funded educational resources meant for students and public benefit.
Misuse of government education funds, if left unaddressed, sets a precedent that could normalise financial indiscipline across other state-run colleges and technical institutions.
Political circles are also abuzz with speculation over whether individuals linked to the questioned tenure may receive party nominations in upcoming local body elections.
Observers argue that considering candidature while an official probe is pending risks undermining stated commitments to zero tolerance against corruption and ethical governance.
Sprouts News SIT, after examining available documents, noted that the pattern of inconsistencies appears structured and prolonged rather than accidental or isolated administrative oversight.
The team concluded that only an independent, time-bound criminal investigation can establish responsibility, quantify financial loss, and determine whether collusion or negligence occurred.
Meanwhile, citizens and civil society groups are asking why assurances given in the Legislative Assembly have not translated into concrete administrative steps on the ground.
If record seizures, FIR registration, and an independent inquiry are not initiated promptly, analysts warn the matter could escalate into a wider administrative and political controversy.
Such an outcome would further strain public confidence in oversight mechanisms governing higher education finances and the enforcement of legislative accountability in Maharashtra.
Special Investigation | Public Interest Journalism
Investigative journalist Unmesh Gujarathi and the Sprouts News Special Investigation Team have exposed a serious fraud through documentary evidence. Citizens aware of scams, corruption, or financial misconduct are encouraged to contact Sprouts News for independent, fearless investigation and public accountability.
