In what is being seen as a move to take over the refurbished Mahakavi Kalidas Natyamandir art theatre in Mulund, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has appointed a new chief administrative officer.
The Priyadarshini Sports Complex, where the art theatre stands is run by Brihanmumbai Krida and Lalitkala Pratisthan (BKLP), which is embroiled in controversy over allegations of financial irregularities and illegal activities.
According to the order issued by civic chief Ajoy Mehta, a copy of which is with HT, Rajendra Chavan has been appointed as the chief administrative officer for the next two years.
He took over from Vilas Vaidya, a retired BMC official, who has been shifted to the football arena, the order states. The BKLP is headed by Shiv Sena leader Adesh Bandekar.
Local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Prakash Gangadhare had accused the trust of financial irregularities and illegal activities.
Rs27 crore was recently spent to refurbish the Natyamandir, which was inaugurated by Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.
The Sena’s warring ally, BJP, boycotted the event in July, alleging that the trust had not been abiding by the terms and conditions and was using the premises for commercial purposes.
Bandekar refuted these allegations. “This is just an administrative move that everybody is aware of,” he said.
He added that the Mayor presides over the trust and that the municipal commissioner is on its board.
According to senior civic officials, the Bombay high court had directed municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta to look into complaints of financial irregularities. Following this, Mehta conducted hearings and set up an inquiry committee to probe these claims.