NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar on Friday 28 November called for a detailed inquiry into an alleged attempt by a Public Works Department employee to embezzle more than Rs 111 crore from contractors’ security deposit accounts in Palghar district. He said the incident raised serious questions about the transparency and accountability of the state bureaucracy.
Pawar stated in a social media post that the suspected fraud was detected in time because of the swift action of bank employees. He praised the staff for preventing what he described as a major loss to public funds, emphasising the need for stronger oversight mechanisms within government departments. “The prompt intervention of bank employees stopped a huge embezzlement attempt,” he wrote while urging authorities to act firmly.
According to officials, the employee allegedly submitted a request slip at a nationalised bank seeking a demand draft worth Rs 111.65 crore. Alert bank staff scrutinised the unusually large request, flagged discrepancies and prevented the transaction from being processed. The attempted withdrawal was immediately reported to senior authorities, prompting calls for internal checks and a formal investigation. Officials are expected to review procedures related to access and authorisation for financial transactions within the department. The case has renewed debate on the need for improved monitoring systems to detect irregularities at an early stage.
The incident has also sparked concern among contractors who rely on security deposit mechanisms for project compliance, with many urging swift action to restore confidence in institutional safeguards.
