Reacting on fresh RTI query, Rs 8 lakhs given as grant for the dance troupe to Bangkok from the CM Relief Fund deposited back in fund

It has come to light by a fresh RTI query filed by RTI activist Anil Galgali that the claim of the Dance troupe, who were sanctioned Rs 8 lakhs from the CM Relief Fund for a show at Bangkok, that the money has been returned back to the relief fund was false. It was informed that the cheque received by the CM secretariat on 18th February 2016 was deposited into the CM Relief Fund bank account on 24 th February 2016. RTI activist Anil Galgali had sought information from the CM secretariat about the claim of the Dance troupe belonging to the CM headed Sachivalaya Gymkhana about returning the grant for its Bangkok trip on 08/01/2016. On receiving the query filed by Galgali the CM secretariat sprung into action to save itself from an embarrassment of an fresh exposure, almost 42 days after the query was filed, a cheque dt 18/02/2016 was collected. This cheque was deposited into the CM Relief Fund account on 24/02/2016 and the receipt was yet to be received was informed to Galgali. The Gymkhana had sought the assistance from the CM Relief fund vide their letter dt 25/08/2015. The Gymkhana needed the assistance to send it's 15 member strong team comprising government employees dance artistes to enable them to participate in a dance competition being held at Bangkok, Thailand from 26th to 30 th December 2015 as a special case. The application was sent by the CM to the CM Relief Fund desk with instructions to put up the application as a special case. On 27/08/2015 the application was put up before the CM as a special case and the assistance of Rs 8 lakhs was immediately sanctioned by the CM. The funds of Rs 8 Lakhs was transferred to the Sachivalaya Gymkhana's account on 11th September, 2015. The purpose of the CM Relief Fund is to provide immediate help to those effected by disaster within the Maharashtra state or any where in the country. The victims or survivors of Disasters such as floods, drought, accidents due to Fire or any other major natural calamities are provided with immediate assistance from the CM Relief Fund. The assistance are also provided to the economically backward sections amongst the communities in cases of medical treatments for various critical ailments. It is also important to note here that a PIL is pending before the Hon'ble High Court, Mumbai against the adhoc functioning of the CM Relief Fund, due to which the govt had taken a policy decision to hold the applications of personal nature and also of Institutions seeking assistance. The CM has overlooked and sidestepped it's own decisions and has disbursed funds to an organization called as Sachivalya Gymkhana, which is headed by CM himself, funds to a tune of Rs 8 lakhs as a special case for a dance competition and at the time when a poor farmer is forced to commit suicides due to reasons afflicted by the drought is shocking, alleged Galgali. The CM headed Sachivalaya Gymkhana was sanctioned Rs 8 lakhs as a special case from the CM Relief Fund for sending a dance troupe to Bangkok at a time when the draught effected poor farmer's are committing suicide due to lack of help from government, alleged Galgali. After the exposure an alibi of the grant being refunded back was created, but in actuality no such grant amount was refunded back despite claims. Further Anil Galgali stated that such diversionary acts expose as a classic example of how the CM Relief Fund is being misused.