PMC may replace tainted officer

After Ashok Ghorpade's arrest for rape last week, civic body insiders say charge of garden superintendent post to be handed over to another official

After a rape charge was last week slapped against Garden Superintendent Ashok Ghorpade of the Pune Municipal Corporation, it is learnt that the civic body has decided to replace him while the inquiry against him is on.

Ghorpade is in magisterial custody; he was arrested after a woman from Bibwewadi lodged a complaint saying he had sexually harassed her. Later she accused him of rape.

Additional charge
PMC sources said the civic body had now decided to give former PMC deputy commissioner Bhanudas Mane charge of the post held by Ghorpade.

The sources said there had been no official announcement of Mane's appointment but it was imminent as there was no garden superintendent in the Garden Department.

Mane said he was not aware of the development.

"I was working with the department for a year and was four months ago transferred to the Dhole-Patil Ward Office as divisional commissioner. I may be given additional charge in the Garden Department and am ready to work there," said Mane.

He added that it was his dream to revive the Garden Department by creating a palm garden, a jaswandi garden, a night garden and a special garden, which would be for visually impaired people.