Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Mumbai Mayor Denies Alleged Letter Recommending BMC Schools Advisor
A letter appeared to recommend Dr Shrenik Kotecha for an honorary education adviser role in Mumbai’s civic schools.
The letter said schools needed better education and new ideas linked to the National Education Policy.
Mayor Ritu Tawde said she did not write the letter.
She also said she did not know Kotecha and that her signature may have been copied.
Tawde said the letter did not pass through her office.
Education Committee Chairperson Rajashree Shirwadkar said she received the letter and sent it onward.
The dispute grew because Kotecha had previously been associated with MT Educare.
MT Educare later closed its coaching centres, affecting thousands of students.
The available accounts disagree about whether the mayor’s office issued the recommendation.
Mayor Ritu Tawde denied writing a March 4 letter recommending Dr Shrenik Kotecha as an honorary advisor for BMC school initiatives.
Tawde called the letter fake and alleged that her signature had been forged.
The alleged letter cited improving civic-school education and aligning initiatives with the National Education Policy as priorities.
The controversy follows reports about Kotecha’s association with MT Educare, which shut its coaching centres and left thousands of students affected.
Education Committee Chairperson Rajashree Shirwadkar said she received and forwarded the letter, contradicting Tawde’s account.
- Who
- Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde, educationist Dr Shrenik Kotecha, and Education Committee Chairperson Rajashree Shirwadkar.
- What
- A dispute over an alleged letter recommending Kotecha as an honorary advisor for new educational initiatives in BMC schools.
- When
- The report is dated August 20, 2026; the alleged letter was dated March 4, with no year specified.
- Where
- Mumbai, involving the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s schools and the mayor’s office.
- Why
- The recommendation became controversial because of reports about Kotecha’s past association with MT Educare, while Tawde disputes the letter’s authenticity.
Mayor’s denial
Committee chairperson’s account
Authenticity of the letter
Mayor’s denial
Ritu Tawde said she did not write the letter, did not know Kotecha, and alleged that her signature was forged.
Committee chairperson’s account
Rajashree Shirwadkar said she received the letter and subsequently forwarded it.
Whether the mayor’s office handled it
Mayor’s denial
Tawde said the document was neither inwarded nor outwarded from her office.
Committee chairperson’s account
Shirwadkar’s statement indicates that she treated the document as a received recommendation and sent it onward.
Suitability of the recommendation
Mayor’s denial
The mayor’s denial rejects the recommendation as an authorized communication from her office.
Committee chairperson’s account
The alleged letter presented Kotecha as an experienced educationist suitable for an honorary advisory role, while the controversy has focused on his past MT Educare association.
- Alleged role
- Honorary advisor for new educational initiatives in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation schools.
- Alleged letter date
- March 4; the year was not specified.
- Mayor’s position
- Ritu Tawde denied writing the letter, called it fake, and alleged signature forgery.
- Education focus
- The letter cited improving civic-school education and introducing initiatives aligned with the National Education Policy.
- Kotecha’s description
- The letter described him as a national-level educationist and a member of Maharashtra’s steering committee for National Education Policy implementation.
- MT Educare association
- Kotecha was associated with MT Educare until 2021, according to the report.
- Conflicting account
- Rajashree Shirwadkar said she received and forwarded the letter, while Tawde said it was not inwarded or outwarded from her office.