The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has served businessman Punit Balan with a notice, alleging that he has “vandalized the city” by installing advertisements and has imposed a penalty of ₹3.20 crore. The PMC’s division responsible for sky signs has taken measures against Balan for exhibiting flexible banners promoting bottled water products at different spots in the city during the Dahi Handi festival. A duplicate of the notice issued by the civic authority was reviewed by HT.
Image only for representational purpose
Businessman Punit Balan Faces Heavy Fine for Unauthorized City Advertisements
According to the notice, Balan has been instructed to settle the fine within two days of receiving the notice to avoid legal action. Madhav Jagtap, the head of the PMC’s sky sign department, stated, “The advertisements were erected without obtaining our permission. Defacing the city in this manner is not permissible.”
Punit Balan, an industrialist with diverse business interests, has previously displayed advertisements throughout the city during Dahi Handi and Ganpati festivals in recent years. He commented on the situation, saying, “I am currently abroad and learned about the notice from my staff. I have forwarded it to my legal team to respond to the notice appropriately.”
Pune’s Legal Battle Over Unauthorized Advertisements and Hefty Fines
Balan’s case was instigated based on the provisions of the Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Property Act of 1995, coupled with a High Court decree issued in 1917. The PMC’s department responsible for sky signs and advertisements possesses the authority to oversee and manage advertisements as stipulated in Sections 244 and 245 of the Maharashtra Municipal Act.
Jagtap explained, “Although PMC had previously waived permission for displaying advertisements during Ganeshotsav, we have issued notices for flex banners put up during the Dahi Handi festival.”
The PMC’s notice reveals that a survey conducted between September 7 and September 17 identified approximately 25,000 banners placed throughout the city, covering an illegal advertisement area of around 80,000 square feet. The notice also states that the PMC charges ₹40 per square foot per day for advertising, resulting in a total fine of ₹3.20 crore. Several business groups, including those associated with Balan, sponsor prominent Ganesh mandals in the city.
