18 January,2026 07:37 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah Khan
Representational image. Pic/iStock
What was meant to be a wholesome meal for election staff has landed a local caterer in serious legal trouble. The Bolinj Police have booked a Virar-based caterer for allegedly cheating the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) by flouting the agreed food menu during election duty and causing financial loss to the civic body.
According to police, the accused, Sudhakar Sankhe, owner of Sankhe Caterers, had signed a formal contract with the municipal corporation to supply good quality, full meals to officers and staff deployed at polling stations during the recent elections. However, instead of the promised menu, election personnel were allegedly served only pulao.
The case was registered following a complaint by Vijay Jagannath Shinde, 53, Assistant Commissioner of the VVCMC and the Election Decision Officer. In his complaint, Shinde stated that the caterer violated the contract terms on two separate occasions, misleading the authorities and allegedly pocketing money meant for proper meals.
The complainant, Vijay Shinde, Assistant Commissioner of the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation and Assistant Election Decision Officer, who filed the complaint, told Mid-Day that the accused had entered into an agreement with the Municipal Corporation to provide good quality food to the officers and employees deployed at polling stations.
However, the accused violated the remaining terms of the agreement. On both occasions, the food was not provided as per the agreement, and even the pulao that was supplied was tasteless and of poor quality. Based on the complaint, the Bolinj Police registered an FIR in the early hours of January 15, 2026, under sections 318(2)(3) and 316(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, dealing with cheating and criminal breach of trust.
