Tukaram Mundhe

Summary

Tukaram Mundhe, a 2005-batch Maharashtra IAS officer, has had about 25 transfers in 21 years, mostly from civic and service bodies where he clashed with elected corporators. In Navi Mumbai (2016) corporators passed a 105–6 no-confidence motion that CM Fadnavis suspended, saying it was wrong to target an officer for doing his duty; he was moved months later anyway. In Nashik (2018) and Nagpur (2020) BJP corporators and mayors opposed him over taxes, tenders and his Smart City role, and both stints ended within months. Governments have generally given no reason, and opponents have accused him of arbitrary decisions and disrespect for elected representatives, which he denies.

TOI: the FDA appointment was his 25th transfer in a 21-year career. Jagran Josh lists 24. In Oct 2026 he denied reports of a further transfer; his MPSC role is a committee assignment.

1. Oct 2016Documented

   Municipal Commissioner, Navi Mumbai

   Not a transfer: the NCP-controlled Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation passed a no-confidence motion against Commissioner Mundhe, 105–6 at a special meeting chaired by Mayor Sudhakar Sonawane, with NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena voting for it and BJP corporators against. Indian Express called it perhaps the first such motion against a commissioner in the civic body's history.

   Up against

   Sudhakar Sonawane (Mayor); Jayant Sutar (Leader of the House, who tabled the motion), Mayor and ruling-party leader, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, Nationalist Congress Party (with Congress and Shiv Sena support) Government: BJP–Shiv Sena (Devendra Fadnavis, CM).

   Reported reason

   Sutar said the commissioner had 'failed to perform' (no specifics given in the extract).

   The other side said

   CM Devendra Fadnavis backed Mundhe: 'Targeting an officer for doing his duty, exposing irregularities and preventing wrong happenings is absolutely wrong.'

   Outcome

   On 2 Nov 2016 the state government suspended the resolution and asked the mayor to explain within 30 days why the civic body took such an action.

   • Order Maharashtra Urban Development Department decision suspending the NMMC no-confidence resolution (as described by a CMO official to The Indian Express), Nov 2016

     The no-confidence motion has been suspended by the state government and the (Navi Mumbai) mayor has been asked to submit a response in 30 days as to why the civic body took such an action.

   The Indian Express, Oct 2016 · The Indian Express, Nov 2016

2. Mar 2017Documented

   Municipal Commissioner, Navi MumbaiChairman & MD, Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML)

   Five months after the state shielded him from the no-confidence motion, he was moved out of Navi Mumbai; Dr N. Ramaswami replaced him. About 100 residents marched in Vashi with placards reading 'We want Mundhe back'. Wikipedia reports he had opposed two already-approved multi-crore projects as unnecessary.

   Up against

   Navi Mumbai corporators (NCP-led), Nationalist Congress Party, Congress, Shiv Sena corporators Government: BJP–Shiv Sena (Devendra Fadnavis, CM).

   Reported reason

   Indian Express later wrote that he 'faced similar opposition from the ruling party' in Navi Mumbai and that the transfer was abrupt; no official reason found.

   The other side said

   No official reason found.

   The Hindu, Mar 2017 · Wikipedia, 2026

3. Feb 2018One report

   Chairman & MD, PMPML (Pune)Municipal Commissioner, Nashik

   In under a year at the Pune bus utility he raised senior citizens' monthly pass fares, disciplined staff and contractors and sacked employees including chief engineer Sunil Burse over bus breakdowns. He was moved to Nashik and replaced by Naina Gunde.

   Up against

   PMPML staff unions and contractors (no politician named in sources) Government: BJP–Shiv Sena (Devendra Fadnavis, CM).

   Reported reason

   No reason reported in the fetched extract.

   The officer said

   Subheadline paraphrase: 'Did my best to turn around PMPML.'

   The other side said

   No official reason found.

   The Indian Express, Feb 2018

4. Nov 2018Documented

   Municipal Commissioner, NashikJoint Secretary, Planning Department (Mantralaya)

   In BJP-ruled Nashik he cracked down on illegal construction and revised property tax sharply. BJP corporators moved a no-confidence motion in August 2018, which was withdrawn on 31 August after the CM intervened. Three months later he was abruptly transferred, his fourth transfer in four years of BJP rule.

   Up against

   Ranjana Bhansi (Mayor; party not stated in source, NMC is BJP-ruled); an unnamed serving BJP MLA, Mayor of Nashik; BJP MLA from Nashik, Bharatiya Janata Party Government: BJP–Shiv Sena (Devendra Fadnavis, CM).

   Reported reason

   Indian Express, citing unnamed sources, reported that 'a serving BJP MLA had made Mundhe's ouster a prestige issue' and that Fadnavis 'had to eventually bow down to demands' within the Nashik BJP. The mayor complained that tax on a 1,300 sq ft property rose from Rs 3,400 to Rs 21,000.

   The officer said

   'I don't count my transfers.' 'Allegations against my style of functioning are untrue and unfounded. There is nothing arbitrary in my decisions, which were taken keeping in mind the interests of the common man in Nashik.'

   The other side said

   Unnamed politicians cited his 'arbitrary decisions and disrespecting of the political class'. No official reason was given.

   Outcome

   No-confidence motion withdrawn 31 Aug 2018 (ABP Majha).

   The Asian Age, Aug 2018 · The Indian Express, Nov 2018 · ABP Majha, Aug 2018

5. Aug 2020Documented

   Municipal Commissioner, NagpurMember Secretary, Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran

   Taking charge on 28 January 2020, he halted development tenders citing lack of funds and cut their budget, and also took over as CEO of the Nagpur Smart City company. In June the BJP Mayor Sandip Joshi and ruling-party leader Sandip Jadhav filed a police complaint alleging he and two finance officials acted without authority and released about Rs 20 crore to contractors; in July the Smart City board removed him as CEO. He was transferred a day after testing positive for Covid-19, seven months in.

   Up against

   Sandip Joshi; Sandip Jadhav, Mayor of Nagpur; BJP leader in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (both Smart City nominee directors), Bharatiya Janata Party Government: Maha Vikas Aghadi: Shiv Sena–NCP–Congress (Uddhav Thackeray, CM).

   Reported reason

   Indian Express said he 'locked horns with the ruling BJP almost immediately'; officers.json notes local Congress leaders also complained.

   The officer said

   He called the complaint 'character assassination and an attempt to make me fall in line as per their wish' and said: 'They seem desperate to malign and demoralize me, and my team.'

   The other side said

   Joshi alleged the officials 'forged documents and gave powers to the civic chief, who released mobilization amount of around Rs20 crore to two private companies'. Smart City chairman Pravin Pardeshi (ACS, Urban Development): 'Municipal commissioner is not ex-officio CEO.' DCP Vinita Sahu said the complaint concerned 'procedural lapses' and not 'misappropriation of funds'.

   Outcome

   No FIR reported at the time; the board appointed Mahesh Morone as officiating CEO. Outcome of any further police inquiry not found.

   • Order Resolution of the NSSCDCL Board of Directors removing Mundhe as CEO (as reported), Jul 2020

     (as reported) Mundhe's take over as the CEO of the NSSCDCL in February did not conform to the norms laid down.

   The Times of India, Jun 2020 · The Indian Express, Jul 2020 · The Indian Express, Aug 2020 · The Times of India, Aug 2020

6. Nov 2022One report

   Commissioner, Health Services & Director, National Health Mission, Maharashtra(no posting named in the order)

   Appointed in early October 2022, he ordered pay deductions for government doctors absent from public health centres while practising privately, strict biometric attendance and surprise inspections. He was transferred a week after the crackdown on absent doctors; TOI called it his ninth transfer in six years.

   Up against

   Government doctors (no politician named in sources) Government: Shiv Sena (Shinde)–BJP (Eknath Shinde, CM).

   Reported reason

   TOI notes only the timing: the order 'came just a week after' the crackdown.

   The officer said

   He did not respond to TOI's requests for comment.

   The other side said

   The transfer order did not name his next posting; no reason given.

   The Times of India, Nov 2022

7. 4 years with no move on record here.

8. Apr 2026One report

   Secretary, Disability WelfarePrincipal Secretary, Disaster Management (stayed)

   His transfer was stayed before he could take charge, leaving him without a posting for about a month.

   The Times of India, Jun 2026

9. Jun 2026Documented

   (no posting)Commissioner, Food & Drug Administration, Maharashtra

   His 25th transfer in 21 years. Officials saw it as a setback since the post had been held by a 2014-batch officer; his food-safety raids later drew national coverage. In October 2026 he was named secretary of a committee probing alleged MPSC exam irregularities and publicly denied reports that he had been moved out of the FDA.

   The officer said

   Denied being transferred and said the fight against unsafe food and substandard drugs would continue (Mid-day headline).

   The Times of India, Jun 2026 · Mid-day, Oct 2026