Navi Mumbai-based organization Sajag Nagrik Manch has submitted a letter to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), alleging that officials within the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) and the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) are violating the Whistleblower Protection Act. The group claims that these officials are leaking details of complaints, compromising the anonymity and safety of individuals reporting corruption and other unethical activities. The letter was addressed to the CMO on March 11.

According to Sudhir Dhani, founder of Sajag Nagrik Manch, "As per the law, the whistleblowers' identity is to be protected to ensure there is no harassment, threats, potential harm, or damage to their career or personal security. However, employees and officials of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) and CIDCO are blatantly violating this law, undermining its very purpose."

The organization regularly acts as a whistleblower by reporting cases of corruption, fund mismanagement, and substandard work in various departments, including engineering projects, gardens, and the health department, to CIDCO and NMMC. These complaints highlight financial irregularities and deterioration in the quality of public works such as roads, footpaths, drainage systems, and water tanks.

Dhani further stated, "Instead of addressing these complaints responsibly, certain corrupt officials within the administration leak the details of these complaints—including photographs and other supporting evidence—to contractors and local representatives. The complainants then receive intimidating messages from these contractors and politicians, warning them to stay away from their affairs. This indicates that the only way such information reaches these individuals is through corrupt officials who have been 'bought.' Some CIDCO officers have even directly threatened complainants in the name of local representatives."

The letter also alleges a deep-rooted nexus between CIDCO and municipal officials, local contractors, and representatives, leading to blatant violations of the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informers Act. Dhani described this as "an alarming and disgraceful practice that completely contradicts the government's stated commitment to transparency and corruption-free governance. Officials view complaints, statements, and RTI requests from vigilant citizens as obstacles and deliberately share these details with contractors and politicians."

The organization also highlighted that the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation has not held elections in the past nine years. Municipal officials reportedly follow directives unquestioningly from former corporators. Similarly, in the case of CIDCO, there is a systematic division of contracts ensuring that only companies favored by local politicians receive these contracts. Several instances have emerged where municipal officials have indirect stakes in these companies, leading to manipulated online tenders and contracts being awarded to a select group of contractors.

Sajag Nagrik Manch has called on the Chief Minister's Office to issue strict instructions to CIDCO and NMMC to maintain complete confidentiality of complaints related to financial irregularities, fund mismanagement, and poor-quality public works. The organization also recommends that "all political representatives in Navi Mumbai and their workers—who behave like feudal lords—must also undergo training to understand that they are not the 'owners' of public resources but merely elected trustees with limited authority."

Through this letter, the organization intends to hold the Maharashtra State Government responsible for any threats or physical harm faced due to whistleblowing activities, as both CIDCO and the municipal administration are government bodies under its jurisdiction.