Mumbai: A Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator has alleged that Rs 20,000 was stolen from her purse while she was inside the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters on Wednesday. The incident occurred within the standing committee hall, a high-security area where crucial financial decisions are made.
The Chenab Times has learned that the corporator, identified as Laxmi Bhatia, elected from Ward No. 56, had stepped out of the standing committee meeting briefly to have lunch. She reportedly left her purse at her seat. Upon returning, she discovered that a packet containing Rs 20,000 was missing from her purse, which was found open with other items scattered outside.
The alleged theft has prompted concerns regarding the security arrangements within the BMC headquarters. Bhatia stated that she informed the civic body’s security department about the incident. She also met with Mayor Ritu Tawde and Standing Committee Chairman Prabhakar Shinde to apprise them of the situation. Bhatia expressed her concern, noting that the absence of CCTV cameras inside the standing committee hall makes it difficult to ascertain the sequence of events or identify any potential suspects.
The incident has raised alarm among political representatives and administrative officials about the safety of personal belongings within the civic body’s premises. Reports indicate that a fellow corporator also observed the condition of Bhatia’s purse upon her return. The lack of surveillance in such a critical area, described as the corporation’s “treasury” due to its role in financial decision-making, has become a focal point of the discussion. Security lapses within the BMC headquarters have sparked a wider debate, with questions being raised about the safety of elected representatives and their belongings within the building.
While Bhatia has reported the incident to the security department and other officials, it is understood that a formal complaint has not yet been filed. The matter is reportedly under internal inquiry by the civic security department. The incident has drawn reactions from political figures, with some questioning the safety of ordinary citizens if corporators are not secure within the BMC headquarters.
The Chenab Times News Desk