Patna: A conflict has erupted within the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) as Mayor Sita Sahu and Municipal Commissioner Animesh Parashar have accused each other of financial misconduct and administrative lapses.
On Tuesday, Mayor Sahu alleged that Commissioner Parashar was involved in financial irregularities, specifically in illegally extending a contract with Tibriwal Chand & Company, a chartered accountancy firm, without issuing a fresh tender. In a letter signed by all seven members of the Empowered Standing Committee, she claimed that payments were made to the firm despite its contract expiring in 2021, with multiple extensions granted without proper tendering processes.
According to the letter, the firm was originally contracted on September 15, 2018, with its tenure ending on September 14, 2021. However, its service was extended twice—first for two years and then for an additional three months in September 2023—without selecting a new agency as promised. The firm was allegedly paid Rs 25.48 lakh despite these irregularities.
Counter-Allegations by the Commissioner
In response, Municipal Commissioner Parashar dismissed the allegations as baseless, instead accusing the mayor’s office of extorting money from agencies by intimidation. He stated that a proposal to remove the CA firm over alleged illegal payments had been sent to the Empowered Standing Committee on August 29, 2024, but the committee failed to act.
“The allegations are completely unfounded. There is a continuous pattern of agencies being forced to extend services under pressure. A proposal will be sent to the state government to put an end to such practices,” said Parashar.
Mayor Sahu, however, maintained that the contract extensions indicate collusion, personal interests, and financial misconduct within the corporation. “This matter must be investigated at the competent level,” she asserted.
