Mira-Bhayandar civic body issues notice to water official Sanjay Sonawane over liquor bottles claim

Sanjay Sonawane, an official of the water supply department of the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation, is in controversy once again. A complaint has reached the civic administration that a pavilion was put up without permission on the premises of the water tank in front of the Commissioner's bungalow, and food was arranged there for municipal employees. The corporation has served Sonawane a notice in the matter and asked him to reply within 24 hours.

According to the notice, the complaint also claims that liquor bottles were found at the venue. The notice states that the administration has received the complaint and evidence in this regard. The matter is thus no longer limited to the permission for the pavilion, as the liquor allegation has been added to it.

The complaint says the event was held on September 30, 2026, on the premises of the water tank in front of the Commissioner's bungalow. A pavilion was erected for it. The question raised is whether prior permission was taken from the corporation for this pavilion. Since the allegation is that corporation space was used by putting up a pavilion without permission, the administration has taken the matter seriously.

According to the complaint, some municipal employees were fed at the event. The administration has therefore directed Sonawane to submit a list of the employees who ate there. It has also asked on whose initiative the event was held, which employees were present, and whether permission was taken to hold such an event on corporation premises.

According to the notice, the complainant has handed over evidence of the liquor bottles to the municipal administration. On this basis, the administration has sought an explanation from Sonawane on the entire matter. However, the administration has not yet announced any final conclusion on who drank the liquor, how the bottles got there, and whether they were used at the event. What Sonawane says in reply will therefore be important.

The corporation has said clearly in the notice that Sonawane must give a written explanation within 24 hours. If a satisfactory reply is not received in the stipulated time, disciplinary action will be taken against him as per the rules. The administration has issued this warning in plain words. All eyes are now on Sonawane's reply and on the stand the administration takes on it.

Sonawane's name has earlier figured in discussion because of a video. A video showing an alleged raucous dance at the birthday event of MLA Narendra Mehta had surfaced, and questions were raised about Sonawane over it. Congress corporator Jay Thakur had drawn attention to that matter and demanded action. Now, after the talk of the raucous dance, the corporation's notice over the allegation of a liquor and mutton party has put Sonawane's role under discussion again.

Three things will decide the matter: the complainant's allegations, the evidence submitted to the corporation, and Sonawane's explanation. People in Mira-Bhayandar are watching what action the administration takes after the 24-hour deadline ends, or whether the matter dies down after Sonawane's explanation.