MNS mocks chief road engineer of BMC with ‘I’m to blame’ sign

MUMBAI: The chief engineer (roads) of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has filed a police complaint against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena corporators and workers

MUMBAI: The chief engineer (roads) of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has filed a police complaint against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena corporators and workers on Wednesday for humiliating him in public.

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The corporators had taken chief engineer Sanjay Darade for a site visit but once they were there, he was made to hold a board which read, “I, chief engineer (roads), am responsible for these potholes. Citizens, please take note.”

The incident occurred near Gomantak hotel in Dadar on Wednesday afternoon. Darade submitted a written complaint at Shivaji Park police station that evening. The corporators he has named in the complaint include MNS group leader Sandeep Deshpande and Santosh Dhuri. Municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta said, “We are going ahead with a police complaint.”

Both Deshpande and Dhuri are members of the standing committee. Deshpande said, “What am I supposed to say when citizens ask me about the bad roads? I am tired of repeating it in BMC meetings. Last week, I had warned Darade during the meeting.”

Sources in the civic body also said that Darade had planned to resign on Wednesday.

Trushna Vishwasrao, Sena corporator, said, “Nobody can deny that the city roads are in a bad shape but we cannot hold one official responsible for it.”

The BMC Engineers’ Union has condemned the incident and will be holding a protest at the Worli Engineers’ hub on Thursday. It has demanded Deshpande’s and Dhuri’s arrest.