Mumbai: Even as seven officials have been suspended and inquiries have been instituted by the BMC administration following two recent rain-related tragedies, information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act reveals that as of April 30, 2026, as many as 537 departmental inquiries involving 1,523 officials and employees are currently pending. Of these, 189 inquiries are pending with the Enquiry Office itself. The data further shows that 234 employees are currently under suspension, including 150 suspended in connection with criminal cases and 84 linked to bribery and anti-corruption cases.Activists alleged that although the data reflects pending inquiries only for the past six months, many of them remain unresolved for years, with some officers eventually retiring before the proceedings are concluded. They pointed out that while an inquiry is pending, the delinquent employee continues to receive 50% of the last-drawn salary, which can increase to 75% after three months. Also, employees of the BMC cannot be transferred to other civic bodies or to other departments of the state govt, except IAS officials.Civic officials maintained that these inquiries against suspended staff are ongoing rather than pending, as employees must be given a fair opportunity to present their case and the proceedings have to be completed strictly in accordance with the rules.Activist Jeetendra Ghadge, who obtained the information, said that while the prompt suspension of officials has been projected as evidence of accountability, the BMC initially refused to provide information regarding departmental inquiries in 2021. Subsequently, in 2025, the Maharashtra State Information Commission directed the BMC to disclose the details, leading to the release of the latest report as of April 30.According to the data, 182 inquiries have been pending for up to one month, 98 for between two and six months, and 257 for more than six months. Only 15 inquiries were disposed of during April 2026, Ghadge pointed out.“Though the data shows pending inquiry figures only for the past six months, many of these inquiries could actually have been pending for years. The inquiries are left unresolved, and eventually the officials even retire. In most cases, the officials are let off with a very minor punishment or given a complete clean chit. Furthermore, despite the information commission’s orders, the BMC has refused to provide information on the number of officials who have been dismissed from service,” said Ghadge.“Whatever may be the allegations, the delinquent employee has to be given a fair opportunity to represent his case. There could be instances where the employee is sick or is engaged in election duty. Besides, an extension may have been granted for the inquiry. We submit a monthly report on the status of the inquiries to the municipal commissioner,” said a civic official handling inquiries.
