Panvel Civic Body Delays Death Certificate For Former API Ashwini Bidre-Gore

The Panvel Municipal Corporation has delayed issuing a death certificate for former assistant police inspector Ashwini Bidre-Gore, despite a clear order from the Panvel Tehsildar. The order, issued on July 31, directed the civic body to register Bidre's death and issue a certificate. However, the corporation has yet to complete the process, even after receiving over 400 pages of supporting documents.

Bidre's death was declared homicidal by the Additional Sessions Court, Panvel, in its judgment delivered on April 21, 2025. The court held that Bidre had died a homicidal death on April 11, 2016. Following the judgment, Bidre's husband, Raju Gore, approached the Panvel Tehsil office seeking an official death certificate.

The Panvel Executive Magistrate and Tehsildar, Minal Bhamare-Bhosale, issued an order directing the civic body to record Bidre's death in the 2016-17 register and issue the certificate to Gore immediately. Gore subsequently submitted the required documents, including the Tehsildar's order, the sessions court judgment, and police reports, to the municipal registrar's office.

Despite this, the death has not been entered in the municipal records, and the certificate remains pending. Gore has expressed anger over the civic administration's handling of the matter, stating that the delay is affecting his daughter's education. The absence of a death certificate is also creating hurdles in her higher education and admission process.

The case had triggered widespread outrage across Maharashtra, with the court subsequently sentencing the accused to life imprisonment. The police department has also acknowledged the murder. Gore has submitted hundreds of pages of evidence, including the court judgment and police reports, but the civic body continues to delay issuing the certificate.

The Panvel Municipal Corporation commissioner, Mangesh Chitale, claimed that the corporation had not yet received the order copy from the Tehsildar and would do the needful once it was received. However, Gore claimed that an employee from the Panvel Corporation had contacted him for additional documents on August 19, which he provided.

The delay in issuing the death certificate has caused serious difficulties for Bidre's daughter, Suchi, who has been unable to access government and service-related benefits following her mother's death. The family is seeking immediate action from the civic body to issue the certificate and bring an end to their ordeal.

The case highlights the need for efficient and sensitive handling of such matters by civic administrations. The delay in issuing the death certificate has not only caused difficulties for the family but has also raised questions about the civic body's commitment to providing timely services to citizens.

In conclusion, the Panvel Municipal Corporation's delay in issuing a death certificate for former API Ashwini Bidre-Gore has caused undue hardship for her family. The civic body must take immediate action to issue the certificate and ensure that such delays do not occur in the future.