Allegations of financial misappropriation have surfaced in the procurement of smart walking sticks and regular canes for the differently abled and senior citizens by the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) in 2022-23. It was also alleged that the office of the contractor concerned was not found at the address mentioned in documents. While smart walking sticks are available in the market for Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 each, the civic body allegedly purchased 54 of them for Rs 12,900 per unit while 84 regular canes, each of which cost Rs 300 to Rs 400, were allegedly bought at a price of Rs 8,200 each.

The tender was awarded to a company whose office address appears to be invalid. When a few activists and citizens raised concerns about this issue and asked senior UMC officials about the high cost of the sticks, they claimed that the items were high-quality and long-lasting. However, activists have demanded an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) inquiry and have filed a complaint with the authorities concerned seeking an investigation.