Mumbai – Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Rohit Pawar has called for a comprehensive investigation into an alleged attempt to embezzle ₹111 crore from the Public Works Department (PWD) accounts in Palghar district. The incident, which has sent shockwaves through Maharashtra’s bureaucratic circles, reportedly involved a PWD employee attempting to divert contractors’ security deposits for personal gain. Pawar highlighted the gravity of the situation and questioned the functioning, accountability, and internal checks of the state bureaucracy.

According to available reports, the incident occurred in Jawhar, Palghar district, where a PWD staffer submitted a request slip to a nationalized bank for the issuance of a demand draft amounting to ₹111.65 crore. The funds in question were held in a PWD account where contractors deposit security amounts as part of contractual obligations. Typically, contractors provide 1–2 percent of project costs as security deposits, with rates extending up to 5 percent for specialized works. The PWD routinely manages projects worth several crores annually, and these security deposits are intended to safeguard the department against non-compliance or defaults by contractors.

The scheme to embezzle the substantial sum was reportedly foiled due to the vigilance of bank staff. Observing the unusually high value of the demand draft request, bank employees flagged it and sought confirmation from senior PWD officials. The department clarified that no authorization had been issued for a transaction of this scale, effectively preventing the attempted fraud. The prompt response by the bank staff was widely lauded as a crucial factor in averting a major financial loss.

Rohit Pawar, who serves as the NCP general secretary, raised serious concerns regarding the implications of such an attempt. In a social media statement, he pointed out that contractors in Maharashtra are already under severe financial strain, with pending bills totaling nearly ₹90,000 crore. “At a time when contractors are struggling for survival, PWD officers themselves allegedly attempting to siphon off ₹111 crore is shocking,” Pawar said. He further highlighted the human cost of financial distress, noting that some contractors had been pushed to suicide due to the delay in payments and severe liquidity challenges.

Pawar’s remarks questioned the state’s control over its own departments and highlighted the apparent erosion of accountability within the bureaucracy. “If officers sitting in government offices are openly attempting such major financial irregularities, it clearly shows they no longer fear the system. What does this say about supervision and discipline within the administration?” he asked. By framing the incident as not merely an isolated attempt but indicative of deeper systemic issues, Pawar called for stringent action against the officials involved.

Demanding accountability, Pawar urged the government to initiate a criminal investigation into the matter. He characterized the incident as “nothing short of an attempt to loot public money” and warned that failure to act decisively would be interpreted as tacit approval for such malpractices. In addition to criminal proceedings, he also called for a detailed review of the mechanisms governing security deposits to prevent any recurrence of similar incidents. His demand underscored the need for structural reforms in financial oversight and monitoring within state departments.

From the administrative perspective, PWD officials confirmed that an internal inquiry has been launched. The department is investigating the incident to ascertain whether other employees or officers might have been involved in the attempted fraud. A senior PWD official, Executive Engineer Nitin Bhoye, told reporters that the employee who submitted the cheque is currently missing and that efforts are underway to trace him. Bhoye emphasized that the alertness of bank staff and departmental officers had been crucial in preventing a massive financial loss.

The PWD also confirmed that a police complaint had been lodged regarding the matter, and further investigation is ongoing. The department’s response highlights the procedural steps being taken to not only apprehend the individual responsible but also to strengthen internal controls to avoid similar incidents in the future.

Financial irregularities within public departments have been a recurring concern in India, and the Palghar incident underscores the vulnerabilities inherent in systems where large sums of public funds are handled. Security deposits, which are meant to ensure compliance and accountability from contractors, represent substantial financial reserves. When misappropriation is attempted, it not only threatens government finances but also undermines public trust and destabilizes ongoing infrastructure projects that depend on contractor participation.

Experts in public administration note that the Palghar incident points to gaps in monitoring, authorization, and audit processes within government departments. Typically, large-scale financial transactions should involve multiple levels of verification and formal approvals to prevent misuse. In this case, the intervention by alert bank staff served as an additional layer of oversight that prevented a potential catastrophe. Analysts argue that the incident should prompt a systemic review, incorporating automated checks, real-time audits, and stricter supervision protocols to minimize human discretion in handling substantial sums.

The human element highlighted by Pawar—the plight of contractors facing delayed payments and financial distress—adds another dimension to the incident. Contractors depend on timely release of funds and security deposits to maintain cash flow, pay laborers, and complete projects efficiently. Any disruption or mismanagement of these funds can have cascading effects, including delayed project completion, increased costs, and severe stress on contractors and their employees. Pawar’s pointed reference to contractor suicides underscores the urgent need for both administrative accountability and systemic reform.

Beyond immediate financial safeguards, the incident also raises questions about governance and ethical standards in the bureaucracy. The fact that a PWD employee allegedly attempted to embezzle such a substantial amount indicates potential lapses in internal discipline, monitoring, and ethical adherence. It also suggests that existing deterrents may be insufficient to prevent high-risk employees from engaging in fraudulent activities. Consequently, a multi-pronged approach is needed, combining stricter oversight, enhanced audit mechanisms, and accountability measures that extend to senior officials who authorize or supervise financial transactions.

Pawar’s call for a detailed probe reflects a growing demand for transparency and proactive governance in Maharashtra. He has emphasized that preventing such incidents requires more than reactive measures; it necessitates revisiting the entire framework governing public funds, particularly security deposits, ensuring that robust checks and balances are in place. His insistence on criminal accountability also signals a broader political and social imperative: safeguarding public money, protecting contractors’ interests, and restoring faith in government institutions.

As the investigation unfolds, attention will focus on tracing the missing employee, determining whether the attempt was an isolated act or part of a larger network, and evaluating the adequacy of existing protocols for handling security deposits. The findings could have far-reaching implications for the PWD and other government departments across Maharashtra, prompting potential reforms in financial management, audit systems, and employee oversight.

In conclusion, the attempted embezzlement of ₹111.65 crore in Palghar district has emerged as a major concern for both political leaders and administrative authorities. Rohit Pawar’s intervention highlights the severity of the incident and raises critical questions about the functioning and accountability of government departments. The prompt action by bank staff prevented an enormous financial loss, but the episode underscores the need for systemic reforms, stringent monitoring, and robust governance mechanisms. With criminal proceedings underway and internal inquiries in progress, the case serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of vigilance, ethical conduct, and structural safeguards in the management of public funds.