PCMC corporator Phuge disqualified for bogus caste certificate

The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has finally disqualified corporator Seema Phuge over the issue of submitting "bogus caste certificate" during the civic election held early last year.

Phuge had contested the civic election from Bhosari-Gaothan area (Ward 35-A) as an NCP candidate for the seat reserved for an OBC candidate.

The action against Phuge comes almost seven months after an FIR was lodged against her by the civic body, accusing her of furnishing bogus caste certificate while filing her nomination.

The Haveli tehsil sub-divisional officer had informed the Pune resident deputy collector (RDC) that his office did not issue any OBC certificate to Phuge, following which the RDC had intimated the PCMC commissioner about the matter.

Shiv Sena's Ashok Kotwal had complained that Phuge submitted a fake OBC certificate, demanding her disqualification. An FIR was lodged in August.

Investigations showed that the Pune divisional caste validity committee had not issued a caste validity certificate to Phuge. The committee had also asked the PCMC to file a criminal case against the corporator for furnishing bogus caste certificate.

Reacting to her disqualification, Phuge said the PCMC has taken the decision despite the matter being sub judice. "We are planning legal action against the civic body," she told Newsline.

The PCMC authorities, however, said Phuge's case was yet to be admitted by the local court, adding that civic officials concerned were yet to receive any summons.

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