PCMC school supplies scam: Sanjay Raut alleges ₹400 crore corruption, demands CM action
Synopsis
Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sanjay Raut has accused a Maharashtra cabinet minister of orchestrating a ₹400 crore school supplies scam in Pimpri-Chinchwad — bypassing Supreme Court rate caps and e-tender rules to award a contract at ₹814 per kit against a court-mandated ₹239. With documentary evidence now in the CM's office, the pressure on Fadnavis to act is real and immediate.
Key Takeaways
Sanjay Raut wrote to CM Devendra Fadnavis on 9 July 2026 , alleging a ₹400 crore corruption scandal in PCMC school supplies procurement.
The contract was allegedly awarded directly to Jagdamba Readymade Dresses Sahakari Sanstha of Solapur , bypassing mandatory e-tender norms applicable to contracts above ₹3 lakh .
The Supreme Court had capped the kit rate at ₹239 per unit ; the contract was allegedly awarded at ₹814 per unit — an overpayment of ₹575 per kit .
Raut alleged kickbacks of ₹50 to ₹55 crore to the concerned ministers and directly accused a senior cabinet minister of pressuring the Municipal Commissioner .
Documentary evidence has been formally submitted to the Chief Minister's Office ; Raut has demanded an immediate inquiry.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Friday, 10 July 2026, levelled serious allegations of a ₹400 crore corruption scandal in the procurement of school supplies by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), accusing a senior state cabinet minister of using political pressure to bypass mandatory tender norms. Raut has formally written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, demanding an immediate inquiry and strict action against those allegedly involved.
What the Allegations Claim
According to Raut's letter dated 9 July 2026, several local corporators from Pimpri-Chinchwad approached him with evidence of irregularities in the procurement of school uniforms, sweaters, socks, raincoats, and school bags for primary and secondary school students. State regulations mandate that any civic procurement exceeding ₹3 lakh must be routed through the mandatory e-tender system. However, the contract was allegedly awarded directly to Solapur-based Jagdamba Readymade Dresses Sahakari Sanstha without any competitive bidding process.
The Rate Inflation at the Heart of the Scam
The alleged financial irregularity is stark. The Supreme Court had previously capped the procurement rate for school kits at ₹239 per unit following litigation that reached the apex court. Despite this judicial directive, the PCMC administration allegedly awarded the contract at ₹814 per unit — an overpayment of ₹575 per kit, entirely funded by taxpayers. Raut estimates the cumulative scale of the alleged fraud at approximately ₹400 crore.
A Senior Minister Named, Kickbacks Alleged
Raut did not stop at procedural violations. In his letter, he directly accused a senior minister within the Maharashtra state cabinet of pressuring the Municipal Commissioner to illegally award the contract to the firm. He alleged that the political intervention was driven by financial kickbacks, with a cut of ₹50 to ₹55 crore reportedly reaching the concerned ministers. Invoking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's anti-corruption slogan — 'Na khaunga, na khane dunga' — Raut underscored the irony of such alleged graft occurring under the ruling dispensation. He described corruption targeting school supplies for children as 'deeply shameful.'
Raut's Demands and Evidence Submitted
Concluding his letter, Raut urged Chief Minister Fadnavis to order an immediate inquiry and take strict action against the implicated minister and the PCMC administration. He confirmed that a complete set of documentary evidence detailing the alleged corrupt practices has been formally submitted to the Chief Minister's Office for review. Notably, this is not the first time PCMC's school supply procurement has attracted scrutiny — the matter had previously reached the Supreme Court, which issued the rate cap that is now allegedly being flouted.
What Happens Next
The ball is now in the Chief Minister's court. If Fadnavis orders a formal inquiry, it could put pressure on the unnamed cabinet minister and trigger a wider audit of PCMC procurement practices. Opposition parties are likely to press the issue in the state legislature. Whether the government acts swiftly — or allows the matter to languish — will be closely watched by civil society groups and anti-corruption watchdogs in Maharashtra.
Point of View
The government's response — or silence — will itself become the story. Maharashtra has seen several civic procurement controversies; what distinguishes this one is the apex court's prior involvement, which makes any cover-up considerably harder to sustain.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PCMC school supplies corruption case alleged by Sanjay Raut?
Sanjay Raut has alleged that the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation awarded a contract for school uniforms, bags, and other supplies to a Solapur-based firm without following mandatory e-tender procedures, and at a rate of ₹814 per kit — far above the ₹239 cap set by the Supreme Court. He estimates the total scam at approximately ₹400 crore.
Which firm was allegedly awarded the PCMC school supplies contract?
According to Raut's letter, the contract was directly awarded to Jagdamba Readymade Dresses Sahakari Sanstha, a cooperative society based in Solapur, without any competitive bidding process.
What role does the Supreme Court play in this case?
The Supreme Court had previously intervened in a related matter and capped the procurement rate for school kits at ₹239 per unit. Raut alleges the PCMC administration flouted this judicial directive by awarding the contract at ₹814 per unit.
Who has Sanjay Raut accused in the PCMC scam?
Raut has accused an unnamed senior minister in the Maharashtra state cabinet of pressuring the Municipal Commissioner to illegally award the contract. He also alleged that kickbacks of ₹50 to ₹55 crore were paid to the concerned ministers.
What action has Sanjay Raut demanded from the Maharashtra government?
Raut has urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to order an immediate inquiry and take strict action against the implicated cabinet minister and PCMC officials. He has submitted documentary evidence to the Chief Minister's Office to support his allegations.
