Pune: PMC Duped With Fake Demand Drafts Worth ₹2.57 Crore
Pune: PMC Duped With Fake Demand Drafts Worth ₹2.57 Crore
Pune, June 23, 2026: A major fraud involving fake demand drafts worth ₹2.57 crore has been uncovered in the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) Property Tax Department. The incident has raised serious concerns over financial security within the civic administration.
In a separate development, a contractual employee has also been booked for allegedly stealing a USB hard disk containing official data from the PMC server room.
The Property Tax Assessment and Collection Department accepts property tax payments until March 31 through various modes, including cash, cheques, online transactions, and demand drafts. In the latest case, an individual submitted ten demand drafts amounting to ₹2,57,19,087 at a civic facilitation centre.
The demand drafts were purportedly issued by three banks ICICI Bank, Jana Small Finance Bank, and IndusInd Bank. However, the fraud came to light after ICICI Bank informed the municipal administration that the submitted demand drafts were fake.
According to PMC officials, the individual allegedly attempted to deliberately defraud the civic body by submitting forged instruments as payment towards property tax dues. Following the discovery, PMC lodged a complaint against the concerned person at the Shivajinagar Police Station.
The civic administration has also sought an explanation from Vidarbha Infotech Pvt. Ltd., the agency responsible for managing the civic facilitation centre where the demand drafts were accepted. Deputy Commissioner of the Property Tax Department Ravi Pawar stated that action would be initiated against the company if any negligence or wrongdoing is established after reviewing its response.
In another incident that has triggered concern within the municipal administration, a USB hard disk containing official government data was reportedly stolen from the PMC server room. A criminal case has been registered against a contractual employee in connection with the theft.
PMC officials have appealed to citizens to use only authorised and verified payment channels while paying taxes and conducting transactions with the municipal corporation.
