1 week ago
Mumbai Mayor Denies ₹25 Lakh Publicity Spend, Calls Letter Fake
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawade is facing questions about money allegedly spent promoting her.
She says the allegations are not true.
She explained that Run Time Solution had already been working for the city corporation before she became mayor.
She said an official used her name while seeking an extension for the company.
Tawade also discussed a letter that supposedly had her signature.
She said the letter was never officially received or sent by her office.
Because of that, she says both the letter and signature are fake.
She plans to ask the municipal commissioner to ensure her office is informed about future proposals involving the Mayor’s name.
Mayor Ritu Tawade denied allegations that the BMC spent over ₹25 lakh on her publicity.
Tawade said Run Time Solution had worked with the municipal corporation for three years, including before her tenure.
She alleged Public Relations Officer Tanaji Kamble used her name to seek the contractor’s extension.
Tawade said a disputed recommendation letter was never inwarded or outwarded by her office and carried a fake signature.
She said she would write to Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide about procedures involving the Mayor’s name and office.
- Who
- Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawade, Public Relations Officer Tanaji Kamble, former Mayor Kishori Pednekar, and municipal officials are involved in the dispute.
- What
- Tawade denied allegations concerning an alleged ₹25 lakh publicity spend and rejected a letter as fake.
- Where
- The dispute concerns the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the Mayor’s office in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- When
- Tawade addressed the controversy at a press conference on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
- Why
- The controversy followed reports about publicity spending, a contractor’s tenure extension, and a recommendation letter allegedly bearing Tawade’s signature.
Mayor’s denial
Allegations and questions
Publicity spending
Mayor’s denial
Ritu Tawade denied responsibility for the alleged spending and said Run Time Solution predated her tenure as Mayor.
Allegations and questions
Reports alleged that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation was spending more than ₹25 lakh on publicity for the Mayor.
Contract extension
Mayor’s denial
Tawade said Public Relations Officer Tanaji Kamble used her name to seek Run Time Solution’s extension and questioned the connection between her office and the contract.
Allegations and questions
The reported extension and the contractor’s work prompted questions about whether the Mayor’s name was used in the process.
Disputed letter
Mayor’s denial
Tawade said the letter was never officially recorded by her office and that its signature was fake.
Allegations and questions
A recommendation letter reportedly bearing Tawade’s signature circulated in the controversy, though Tawade said it could not have been legitimately signed.
Key facts
- Alleged publicity spending
- Over ₹25 lakh, according to reports cited in the article.
- Contractor
- Run Time Solution had worked with the municipal corporation for three years.
- Contract value cited by Tawade
- Approximately ₹3–4 crore.
- Disputed letter
- Tawade said it was neither inwarded nor outwarded by her office.
- Signature allegation
- Tawade called the signature on the letter fake.
- Next step
- Tawade said she would write to Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide.
Quotes
Ritu Tawade
Mumbai Mayor
“I found that this letter was neither inwarded in my office nor outwarded. Therefore, I could not have signed this letter without it being officially inwarded. I compulsorily sign every letter that is inwarded, which has an outward number and bears the Mayor’s stamp.”
freepressjournal.in
“I came to know only this morning that a recommendation had been made in my name for Shrenik Kotecha. I do not even know who Shrenik Kotecha is. Secondly, after gathering all the information, I found that this letter was neither…”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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