Sanjay Raut. File Pic
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, alleging corruption worth crores of rupees in the procurement of school uniforms and supplies by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). He has demanded an immediate inquiry into the matter and strict action against those found responsible.
In his letter dated July 9, 2026, Raut claimed that residents and representatives from Pimpri-Chinchwad had raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the purchase of school uniforms, sweaters, socks, raincoats, school bags and other materials for students of civic-run primary and secondary schools.
Raut alleged that the procurement process violated rules, claiming that the purchases were not carried out through the mandatory e-tendering system.
"Dear Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the school material purchase scam in the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation is worrying, it is defaming Maharashtra, it would only be surprising if action is taken! But I am doing my duty!" Sanjay Raut said in a post on X.
According to Raut's letter, government rules require the e-tendering process to be followed for purchases exceeding Rs 3 lakh. However, he alleged that work worth crores of rupees was awarded to a Solapur-based cooperative society without following the required procedure.
Raut claimed that this amounted to a violation of procurement norms and resulted in losses to the civic body.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also referred to Supreme Court directions regarding the pricing of school supplies. He claimed that the court had fixed the price of school supplies at Rs 239 per set, but the municipal corporation allegedly purchased the same items for Rs 814 per set.
According to Raut, the price difference resulted in an additional cost of Rs 575 per set and caused a major loss to public funds.
Raut further alleged that the total irregularities in the procurement process could run into several crores of rupees and claimed that around Rs 50-55 crore may have been involved in the alleged corruption.
He also alleged that a senior minister pressured the municipal commissioner to award the contract without following tender rules.
In his letter, Raut referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's anti-corruption message and said that such allegations involving school supplies should be investigated thoroughly.
Raut urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to order a fair and independent probe into the allegations. He said all documents related to the alleged irregularities had been sent to his office and demanded immediate action against those responsible if wrongdoing was established.
