NCP Leader Najeeb Mulla Demands Probe Into 32nd Thane Mayor Varsha Marathon
Thane City President of the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) and corporator Najeeb Suleman Mulla has formally written to Thane Municipal Corporation Commissioner Saurabh Rao, demanding an independent, high-level inquiry into alleged mismanagement and unauthorized fee collection during the 32nd Thane Mayor Varsha Marathon held on August 30, 2026.
In his letter dated August 31, 2026, Mulla raised concerns regarding operational failures that disrupted the sporting event. He highlighted several issues faced by participants, including delayed race start times, disorganization during medal distribution, technical errors in issuing e-certificates, and delayed refreshment arrangements across the venue.
Mulla noted that the Thane Mayor Marathon was originally instituted by the late Mayor Satish Pradhan to foster sportsmanship and support emerging and established runners. However, he stated that recent editions have suffered a decline in standards, shifting away from their athletic focus toward political publicity.
A primary issue raised in the representation involves financial transparency and participant fees. Mulla alleged that entry fees were improperly collected from participating athletes and local residents. According to municipal records, there was no prior authorization, committee deliberation, or general body approval granting the civic administration permission to charge participants. Historically, marathons organized by the civic body did not levy entry fees or depend on private sponsorships. Mulla called the fee collection unauthorized and requested an immediate full refund for all participants.
To address the lapses, Mulla urged the civic administration to establish an independent third-party committee to review the event's execution. The suggested probe would examine the logistics failures, assess the performance of appointed event agencies and civic officers, and audit the distribution of medals, e-certificates, and refreshments.
Mulla also suggested that municipal officials study the organizational frameworks of well-managed local events, including the annual Hiranandani Estate Marathon held every February, to establish operational benchmarks and avoid similar problems in future editions.
