The first citizen Dattatraya Gaikwad took the lead in welcoming Bhatia though he was a trifle early as the senior IAS officer had yet to reach Pune. It may have been an ordeal for Bhatia for the last couple of weeks, but he seemed clearly overwhelmed by the spontaneous support of Puneites and promises to live up to their expectations by setting ``high targets.''

``I am happy and it is so reassuring that there is some place you can turn to,'' acknowledged a grateful Bhatia who despite being in the midst of shifting house, took some time off for an informal chat with media persons. Bhatia will take charge as municipal commissioner at 10 am on Thursday.

The Bombay High Court's decision has reaffirmed my faith in the judiciary and it is really heartening to note that in spite of the fact that the judiciary being overburdened, the judges managed to hear the petitions and deliver the judgements in time, Bhatia said.

Asked about the Chief Minister Narayan Rane's reported statement regarding ``let the people know a civil servant can hire a battery of top lawyers,'' Bhatia said that no money had been charged from him. Infact, the lawyer Rohit Kapadia represented the case gratis, Bhatia said.

``I am aware that there are high expectations from the people who have given me their unstinted support,'' Bhatia smiled and in a lighter vein quipped about being slightly worried. Though he was quick to add that he would set high targets towards the city's development.

He said he intended to lay more emphasis on the slum rehabilitation scheme while taking stock of the city's sanitation.

The man is back yes, but with an added zest to do something for the Puneites which were instrumental in getting him back. As for the reception for their hero, the People's Action Committee led by Avinash Dharmadhikari and others have planned to greet Bhatia as he takes charge on Thursday and have invited all those who have actively supported him to be present in large numbers.

56-year-old Bhatia, who belonged to the 1967 batch of Indan Administrative Service (IAS), has been transferred 26 times so far.

A Cambridge graduate and an alumnus of St Stephen's college, Bhatia shot into the limelight for the first time in 1982 when as collector of Dhule district he exposed a multicrore scandal in the employment guarantee scheme.

As a collector of Mumbai he unearthed what came to be known as ``FSI fraud'' which triggered a series of writ petitions in the high court and culminated in orders for demolition of illegal structure including Arihant at Mahalaxmi, Pratibha near Warden Road and parts of Om chambers at KEMP's corner.