BMC’s Waste Wing Drowns in Corruption
• Fake Bills, Real Loot in Mumbai’s Waste Wing
• New BMC Officer, Same Corruption Trail in SWM
• BMC’s Rs 4,531 Cr Budget Under Scrutiny
Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) continues to reel under deep-rooted corruption, this time within its Solid Waste Management (SWM) department. On December 5, 2024, Assistant Engineer Ranjan Bagwe was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on charges of multi-crore corruption during his tenure. Now, in a shocking twist, Bagwe’s successor Sanjay Gawali has allegedly followed the same path—systematically generating fake bills and siphoning off public funds.
Sprouts News Special Investigation Team (SIT) has obtained credible evidence indicating that just like Bagwe, Gawali is showing inflated paper expenses and diverting public money through falsified billing. Meanwhile, hardworking laborers from marginalized communities remain deprived of statutory benefits like bonuses, Provident Fund (PF), House Rent Allowance (HRA), and Employee State Insurance (ESIC). Insiders reveal that Bagwe earlier earned illegal commissions ranging between 18–20% from such schemes—collections that have now allegedly shifted to Gawali.
Sprouts News has formally submitted a demand to BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, calling for an urgent and independent investigation into these allegations.
• BMC’s Solid Waste Budget Mired in Corruption
The BMC’s SWM department is among the city’s most critical civic wings, tasked with maintaining sanitation and disease control across Mumbai. In the financial year 2024–25, a massive Rs 4,531 crore was allocated to this department, with each ward receiving over Rs 100 crore on average.
This fund comes directly from taxpayer money. Yet, the BMC’s E-Ward has become a hotbed for corruption. Bagwe reportedly collected Rs 10–15 lakh monthly solely from the SWM department, with even larger collections from other sections. Despite multiple complaints, he remained untouched for years due to his connections with senior officials.
• ACB Trap Unravels Bagwe’s Graft Operation
Bagwe’s fall began when a contractor applied for a “Pay and Use” toilet project near Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Road and Reay Road railway station in Byculla. The contractor, like others before him, was allegedly asked for a bribe of Rs 10 lakh. The amount was negotiated down to Rs 6 lakh, and Bagwe was caught red-handed while accepting Rs 3 lakh by ACB officers.
He was immediately arrested and sent to Arthur Road Jail. However, due to legal loopholes and a reportedly weak prosecution, he was granted bail within just six days. Sources fear he may soon be reinstated in BMC and resume corrupt practices on an even larger scale. Contractors and whistleblowers have expressed their deep concern to Sprouts News, warning of further misuse of public money.
Also Read: Maharashtra’s Treasury Funds Dry Up, Tribal Welfare Takes a Hit.
• Repeat Offenders Continue to Climb Civic Ladders
This isn’t an isolated case. In a similar incident years ago, Ganesh Shimpi, then a stenographer at Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation, was caught accepting a bribe by ACB’s Datta Karale. Despite this, Shimpi has since been promoted and now holds the post of Assistant Municipal Commissioner—a disheartening reminder of how corruption is not just tolerated but seemingly rewarded in civic governance.
Sprouts News stands firm in its commitment to exposing systemic corruption and bringing transparency to public offices. With mounting evidence of ongoing fraud in the SWM department, the Sprouts Team continues to push for accountability and reforms within the BMC.