BMC Cold War: Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde Accuses Predecessor Of ‘Unauthorised Filming’ Inside Cabin
BMC Cold War: Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde Accuses Predecessor Of ‘Unauthorised Filming’ Inside Cabin Reported By, Last Updated: July 04, 2026, 17:59 IST Tawde has
BMC Cold War: Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde Accuses Predecessor Of ‘Unauthorised Filming’ Inside Cabin Reported By, Last Updated: July 04, 2026, 17:59 IST Tawde has filed a police complaint, alleging that Kishori Pednekar, accompanied by a group of individuals, bypassed security during her absence The mayor also announced that the BMC has launched an intensive, citywide audit of all manholes. File image/PTI A major political row has erupted at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde accused Leader of the Opposition and former Mayor Kishori Pednekar of entering the mayoral office premises without permission and allegedly filming sensitive areas. Mayor Tawde submitted a written complaint to the Azad Maidan Police on Friday, demanding a thorough investigation into the incident. According to Tawde, the incident occurred at around 3:45 pm while she was away from her office conducting citywide inspections of manholes and monitoring ongoing civic works.
She alleged that Pednekar, accompanied by a group of individuals, bypassed security during her absence. Anticipating counterarguments, Tawde clarified that while Pednekar might deny entering her personal cabin, the mayor’s office extends beyond a single room to areas where high-level official files and confidential correspondence are routinely handled. “The CCTV footage clearly shows an individual accompanying her recording the entire office layout. If the objective was merely to verify a specific document, why was every single corner of the premises filmed?" Tawde asked in her police complaint. Raising concerns over unauthorised access to a public office, the mayor warned of potential security compromises, including the possibility that classified documents were photographed. While Tawde stated she could not immediately verify if any specific paperwork had been compromised, she maintained that the unprecedented nature of the intrusion warranted criminal scrutiny, adding that such conduct had never been witnessed from an Opposition leader in the BMC’s history.
She has urged the police to review all available CCTV footage to ascertain legal and procedural violations. Rejecting the allegations, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Pednekar said, “We (opposition) have written letters to the mayor seeking intervention, and we haven’t received any call or reply from her office. Today, I went into the hall to follow up about the letters that I have sent. I didn’t even go near the mayor’s cabin." Meanwhile, addressing the controversial Sakinaka manhole incident, Tawde dismissed reports that it had been left dangerously open. She clarified that the cover had been temporarily removed by civic teams solely to install a safety grill as part of routine upgrades. In a related development, the mayor announced that the BMC has launched an intensive, citywide audit of all manholes. Under this new directive, civic officials and public representatives have been ordered to physically inspect manholes across all wards to guarantee that safety measures are strictly enforced and covers remain securely in place.
The BriefWire