Pune: Former BJP Corporator Hits RTI Activist with Sandal Over Women’s Hostel Tender Dispute
Pune: Former BJP Corporator Hits RTI Activist with Sandal Over Women’s Hostel Tender Dispute
Incident at Pune Municipal Corporation Headquarters Involves Heated Argument Over ₹2 Crore Tender
PUNE: A heated altercation at the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) headquarters on Thursday resulted in former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) corporator Rajashree Kale hitting Right to Information (RTI) activist Paresh Gurav with her sandal. The dispute arose over a ₹2 crore tender issued for the completion of a women’s hostel for Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Baner.
The PMC has been constructing the women’s hostel in Baner, with approximately 70% of the project completed. The civic body recently floated a tender worth ₹2 crore to finalize the remaining construction. However, Paresh Gurav, an RTI activist and former associate of some Congress leaders, objected to the tender, raising concerns about its transparency and submitting a formal letter to the PMC’s building department.
On Thursday evening, Rajashree Kale, who has been actively following up on the hostel project for the past few months, visited the PMC headquarters to discuss the tender’s status. During her visit, she was informed by PMC officials about Gurav’s objection. Coincidentally, Gurav was also present at the headquarters at the same time, leading to a confrontation between the two.
The argument escalated quickly, with Kale allegedly losing her temper and striking Gurav with her sandal. The commotion drew the attention of several BJP leaders present at the scene, who intervened and managed to de-escalate the situation. Following the incident, Gurav left the premises and has not made any public comments since.
When asked about the incident, Rajashree Kale stated, “I have been following up for this hostel since the beginning. Gurav used the wrong language with me, and I got angry due to his language.”
The PMC and local authorities have yet to comment on the incident or any potential repercussions for those involved. The controversy has sparked discussions about the conduct of public officials and activists in civic matters.
