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SC refuses to stay ACB probe into ₹2,000-cr disproportionate assets case against ex-PMC city engineer
The Supreme Court declined to interfere with a Bombay High Court order reviving the ACB probe into an alleged ₹2,000-crore disproportionate assets case involving former Pune Municipal Corporation city engineer Prashant Waghmare. The HC order had quashed the 2019 decision to refuse sanction for an open inquiry, and the SC granted permission to file an SLP but dismissed it, leaving the HC order in place.
Why It Matters
This ruling affects the course of a high-profile anti-corruption investigation and clarifies limits on Section 17A protections and the authority of the competent agency in initiating probes.
Timeline
9 Events
April 16, 2026: Supreme Court grants SLP permission and dismisses it without staying HC order
April 16, 2026
The Supreme Court granted permission to file the special leave petition but found no good ground to interfere with the High Court’s judgment, and the SLP was dismissed; pending applications were disposed of.
April 2, 2026: Bombay HC quashes 2019 PMC decision on open inquiry
April 2, 2026
The Bombay High Court quashed the 2019 decision by the PMC commissioner to refuse sanction for an open inquiry, holding that the competent authority exceeded its jurisdiction by assessing the merits at a preliminary stage and that Section 17A protection cannot block an inquiry.
June 28, 2019: ACB closes confidential inquiry
June 28, 2019
Based on the Commissioner's decision, the ACB closed the confidential inquiry on June 28, 2019.
April 25, 2019: PMC commissioner refuses approval for inquiry
April 25, 2019
Gambhire's petition challenged the PMC commissioner’s orders of April 16 and April 25, 2019, refusing approval for an inquiry.
April 16, 2019: PMC commissioner rejects open inquiry request
April 16, 2019
The then PMC commissioner Saurabh Rao rejected the request to initiate an open inquiry after a hearing.
January 31, 2019: ACB superintendent recommends seeking prior approval
January 31, 2019
ACB superintendent Sanjay Patange wrote a letter recommending that prior approval from the competent authority be sought to open an inquiry.
May 18, 2016: Gambhire files complaint with ACB
May 18, 2016
Complainant Tanaji Balasaheb Gambhire filed a complaint with the ACB alleging Prashant Waghmare accumulated assets worth ₹2,000 crore disproportionate to his known income, with funds routed through family members, associates and linked entities.
August 2003: Waghmare serves as city engineer
August 2003
Waghmare served as the Pune Municipal Corporation's city engineer from August 2003.
1994: Waghmare joined PMC as an engineer
1994
Waghmare joined the Pune Municipal Corporation as an engineer in 1994.