Nagpur: A tax collector working with the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) Lakadganj Zone has been booked for allegedly tampering with official records and submitting false information to claim ₹50 lakh in government compensation meant for the families of civic employees who died during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The accused, Amit Laxman Thombre (31), a resident of Harihar Nagar near Hanuman Machhi Bazaar Square in Garoba Maidan, allegedly manipulated official documents to obtain the financial benefit. Lakadganj police registered a case against him on October 12.

According to the complaint filed by Prabhakar Kale (53), a tax superintendent with NMC’s Zone 8, Thombre’s father, Laxman Mahadeorao Thombre, worked as a peon at the Lakadganj Zone office and died during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following his father’s death, Thombre was appointed to the civic body on compassionate grounds.

Under a government circular, families of officers and employees who died during the pandemic were eligible for financial assistance of ₹50 lakh, subject to prescribed conditions.

Police suspect that Thombre tampered with original office records and entered false information to secure the compensation. The alleged irregularities came to light during scrutiny of the documents, prompting the civic administration to lodge a complaint.

Based on the complaint and preliminary inquiry, Lakadganj police registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to cheating and forgery.

Further investigation is underway.