Mumbai: Members of Chikitsak Samuha, a trust that runs Patkar-Varde College and a college of hospitality and management in Goregaon (West), have accused the management of misappropriating funds, indulging in corruption, and carrying out illegal constructions.
Trust members have alleged that fake audit reports of income and expenditure from 1953 to 2016, which were signed by trust president Kishore Rangnekar and secretary Gurunath V. Pandit, were submitted in the Charity Commissioner’s office on January 13, 2017.
Sunil Sukhthankar, a trustee, said that no annual general meeting (AGM) has been held for several years. “Fake meetings were held and fake resolutions were passed to allow the president and the secretary change their elected tenure from three years to five years.”
Echoing similar concerns, M.B. Kekare, former principal, said members have been kept in the dark about the actual income and expenditure. “The motive behind the non-disclosure is to cover up financial irregularities like accepting donations in cash, and corruption in appointing vendors, contractors, and even college staff,” said Mr. Kekare, who is also a trustee.
Mr. Rangnekar, however, denied that the audit reports were fake. They were submitted late, he said. “I took charge as president in 2005. In 2016, we came to know from the Charity Commissioner’s office that audit reports had not been submitted since 1953. In January 2017, audit reports till 2016 were submitted.”
The president also said that AGM has been held regularly since 2005 with one exception. Because of the elections of office-bearers to the trust, the meeting of 2009 was postponed to March 2010. “At the AGM in 2011, it was unanimously decided to extend the tenure of the elected body from three years to five years,” said Mr. Rangnekar, adding that he has printed reports of the trust, the register of minute book of AGM, and the attendance register.
Mr. Rangnekar said that all donations have been made through demand draft and they figure in the annual report. “There is a purchase committee consisting of the principal and the HoD concerned to decide on vendors through tenders.”
Another former principal of the college alleged that the management had to return the UGC grant it had received to build a girls’ hostel with 35% penalty. “The inspection team found several violations. But, the hostel still came up. Where did the money come from?” He also alleged that in the last five years, the trust has acquired residential properties through shady transactions in Goregaon, Bangur Nagar and Kudal.
The trust secretary, however, said the hostel, which was to be partially funded by the UGC, came up with the trust’s money. “The inspection team wanted us to follow the original design submitted according to which the building could be used only as a hostel. Considering the poor response from girl students at that time, the trust decided to use the building as per the requirements of the college,” Mr. Pandit said and added that they returned the UGC grant with just a 10% interest.
Mr. Rangnekar said two flats purchased in Goregaon for use as residence of the principal, and for running additional classrooms and laboratories were approved by the trust.
The trust members have claimed that there have been complaints filed in the Charity Commissioner’s office, Goregaon (West) police station, and Mumbai University. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the Mumbai Fire Brigade too have issued notices to the management for making structural changes without permission, and for failure to adhere to fire safety norms.
Mr. Rangnekar, however, denied having ever received a notice from the Mumbai Fire Brigade. “The BMC in May 2017 raised objections to some internal changes and issued a notice. We carried out the instructions following which the civic body expressed its satisfaction.”
The president and the secretary said they are fighting cases in the Charity Commissioner’s office.
