Multi-crore Payroll Fraud Alleged In NMC; Itankar Orders Inquiry

Nagpur: Shiv Sena (UBT) has alleged a payroll fraud involving crores at Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), claiming salaries and festival advances were disbursed for years to individuals who were allegedly not civic employees. If proven, the fraud would be counted among most serious financial irregularities reported in the civic body in recent years.Nitin Tiwari, Shiv Sena (UBT) city president, submitted a memorandum to mayor Neeta Thakre and municipal commissioner Vipin Itankar, seeking a high-level inquiry into salary and Rakhi advance payments in Lakadganj zone. Itankar told TOI that he already ordered a probe into the allegations.As per the complaint, workers employed at an industrial unit in Butibori and some of their family members were allegedly shown as Group-D employees of NMC and received salary through official channels.The alleged irregularities date back to 2019, with non-employees' names being inserted into salary rolls and payments approved and released through the banking system. Tiwari alleged nearly 15-20 lakh was siphoned off every month via the racket, causing losses worth several crores over past seven years. Bank records allegedly show salary deposits ranging from 48,000 to more than 62,000. The representation further alleges beneficiary names were periodically changed, making detection difficult. The complaint sought scrutiny of officials involved in preparing, verifying and approving bills, besides an audit of salary payments, attendance books and bank transactions since 2019.