MUMBAI: The charity commissioner’s office has ordered an inquiry into the running of the Brihanmumbai Lalit Kala Prathistan (BLKP), which operates the Andheri Sports Complex and Mulund’s Kalidas Natya Mandir. They are among the BMC’s biggest sporting and cultural premises.
The Public Trusts Registration Office has asked the BLKP trustees to turn up for the inquiry with relevant documents like audited accounts on Monday. Last week, the BLKP had passed a resolution seeking Rs 25 crore as interest-free loan from the BMC as it had no money to pay its staff and bills or for the upkeep of its two properties. It prompted the inquiry.
"The Andheri Sports Complex and Mulund’s Kalidas Natya Mandir are two of the BMC’s biggest and most popular sporting and cultural hubs. The inquiry against the trust running them is a serious issue, especially since it is the second probe against it after one in 2017 that the HC had ordered. It is high time action is taken in case of irregularities and mismanagement. The trust must become self-sustainable.-TimesView"
“In the exercise of the powers vested in the Inspector u/s 37 of the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950, I propose to take inspection of the trust on 19.07.2021 in connection with the complaint received against the trust… you are required to remain present with audited statements of account for three years, register of movable and immovable property… up-to-date copies of reports filed to this office,” said a letter issued to BLKP by the Public Trusts Registration Office last week.
The BLKP called the inspection routine. “We have all the financial details in place and all the audited statements of account are up to date. We will submit all the documents and comply with the Public Trusts Registration Office’s instructions as required,” said Devendra Jain, a former assistant municipal commissioner who is a BLKP administrator.
The opposition has alleged several irregularities in the management of the trust. “The entire institution has collapsed. The poor financial condition is a result of mismanagement and gross irregularities by office bearers in the past. The probe report of a 2017 inquiry was never made public and no corrective steps were taken. There must be a third party audit of the trust’s finances and management. The BLKP must be taken over by the BMC. We can’t spend more unaccounted for money,” said Congress corporator Ravi Raja, the opposition leader in the BMC and a BLKP member.
The trust has been under the scanner for several irregularities. Following a Bombay high court order, then civic chief Ajoy Mehta had ordered an inquiry into the functioning of the trust in 2017.
BLKP oversees the functioning of the two facilities, which have auditoriums, swimming pools and gymnasiums. The trust has the mayor, leader of opposition, municipal commissioner, additional commissioner and other senior civic officers on the board. Some seats are reserved for artistes and sportspersons.
