Nagpur: In a surprising twist during the trial of the notorious NMC stationery scam involving the Nagpur Municipal Corporation, the prosecution’s case faces a setback as key witnesses contradict the initial allegations. The case, which implicated members of the Sakode family (contractors of NMC) along with 11 NMC employees, including a Lower Divisional Clerk, auditor, and accountant, had led to arrests and prolonged police custody.
The prosecution, from the outset, claimed that the accused, in collaboration with the Sakode family, had forged bills, invoices, and other stationery-related documents to defraud the NMC. It alleged that the accused employees misused their positions to approve and upload these fabricated bills in the e-governance system, causing an estimated loss of about 4.5 Crores to the government.
As the trial progressed under the High Court’s directive to conclude within six months, the prosecution presented three witnesses: Sanjay Chilkar, HOD Health Department; Vijay Kulle, accounts officer, and another employee. Chilkar asserted that the Sakode family had submitted forged bills during the pandemic, successfully encashing them through the e-governance portal. Kulle explained the process of bill verification and approval through the portal.
However, during cross-examination, the defense counsel, Advocate Prakash Naidu, extracted crucial admissions. Chilkar admitted that his e-governance ID and password were created after the alleged offense, and he had no knowledge of the system during the incident. He emphasized reliance on physical billing and filing rather than e-governance procedures.
Similarly, Kulle admitted ignorance of the Health Department’s working procedure and clarified that physical bills were processed through internal channels, eliminating the possibility of tampering. He acknowledged that suspicion would arise only if defects or abnormalities were detected during the process.
Naidu further revealed that e-governance played a minimal role, as only basic details could be uploaded, and substantial documents were processed through physical billing. Moreover, the Sakode family promptly rectified their alleged mistakes by reimbursing the fraudulently obtained amount.
The defense argued that the employees of the NMC were wrongly arrested, asserting that the prosecution rushed into action based on erroneous premises. Vijay Kulle’s admission of a recorded conversation, where the Sakode family admitted guilt and bribery attempts by a storekeeper in charge, adds another layer to the unfolding narrative.
Advocate Prakash Naidu, along with Homesh Chauhan, Mitesh Bais, and Surabhi Naidu (Godbole), represented the accused, while Adv Sangeeta Hoge represented the state. The trial continues with a renewed focus on the integrity of the evidence presented by the prosecution.
