The BrihanMumbai municipal corporation (BMC) has rejected BJP MLA Ameet Satam’s demand in a letter to BMC commissioner Iqbal Chahal to cancel the appointment of Sunil Rathod, deputy chief engineer, building and proposal department, western suburbs, for getting caught red-handed accepting bribe by ACB and later proven guilty in Sessions Court.

In a letter signed by City Engineer, Atul Murlidhar Patil, BMC has said that the Bombay High Court has acquitted the said officer and set aside the judgment and order of the lower court.

“In this context, this is to inform you that the Hon’ble High Court vide order dated 25th August 2021 in criminal appeal no. 1137 of 2018  has set aside the judgment and order of conviction dated 18th August 2018 by Special  Judge and acquitted Shri Sunil Rathod of the charge framed against him. Thus the ACB case no. 74 of 2014 against Shri Sunil Rathod is concluded and there is no court case pending in this respect. Pursuant to the aforesaid order of Hon’ble High Court, Shri Sunil Rathod was promoted as Deputy Chief Engineer (Civil) vide Corporation Resolution no.1260 of 2.12.2021”

The letter further says, “Shri Sunil Rathod stands posted on a vacant post by deputy chief engineer(building proposal) WS-I as per rules  and in view of the order of Hon’ble High Court acquitting Shri Sunil Rathod  from all charges and there is no irregularity in his appointment.”  

Satam in his letter on January 17, 2022 alleged that Rathod was arrested by ACB but managed to get bail. Even though he was suspended, he managed to join the corporation but was later proven guilty in Sessions Court. He said that Rathod managed to get the posting as deputy chief engineer in building proposal department, WS, through a politically influential builder. “Building proposal  department is the most corrupt department in BMC on which ex DGP Praveen Dixit  has also made his comments as to how much per sq ft is usurped in corruption in BMC,” he said.