The Maharashtra PDS transport tender controversy has intensified following a legal dispute over a proposed Rs 4,500 crore foodgrain transportation contract linked to the state’s Public Distribution System. Anjali Damania alleged that efforts were being made to advance the tender process despite interim restrictions imposed by the Bombay High Court and its Aurangabad bench. Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal and department officials denied the allegations, maintaining that no work orders had been issued. The dispute concerns district-level transport contracts linked to subsidised foodgrain distribution across Maharashtra under the National Food Security Act framework.

Maharashtra PDS Transport Tender Row: Anjali Damania, Chhagan Bhujbal Clash Over Rs 4,500 Crore Contract Amid Court Stay

A legal dispute over Maharashtra’s Rs 4,500 crore Public Distribution System transport tender has intensified after activist Anjali Damania accused Minister Chhagan Bhujbal of attempting to advance the process despite a court-imposed restriction. Government officials have denied the allegations and stated that no work orders have been issued.

The Maharashtra PDS transport tender has emerged as the latest point of confrontation between social activist Anjali Damania and Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal following an interim court order linked to the tender process.

The controversy centres on a Rs 4,500 crore foodgrain transportation contract under the Public Distribution System (PDS), a critical welfare mechanism responsible for ensuring foodgrain delivery to eligible beneficiaries across Maharashtra.

Damania alleged that efforts were being made to move forward with the tender despite judicial scrutiny. However, officials from the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department have rejected those claims.

Court Order Places Restrictions on Work Orders

The dispute gained momentum after petitions challenging the tender process were filed before the Bombay High Court and its Aurangabad bench, raising questions regarding the ongoing procurement exercise.

On May 19, the Aurangabad bench issued an interim order restraining the Maharashtra government from issuing work orders under the disputed tender process until the next hearing scheduled for June 22.

According to the court order, authorities may continue the procedural aspects of the tender process. However, no work order can be issued in any district under the challenged tender framework during the interim period.

Following the order, Damania publicly questioned the government’s intentions and alleged that attempts were being made to push the process forward despite the judicial restrictions currently in force.

She further alleged that Bhujbal was keen to proceed with the project and suggested that financial considerations could be influencing decisions. The minister has not publicly responded to those specific allegations.

How the Maharashtra PDS Transport System Works

Under the provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013, Maharashtra’s Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department oversees procurement, storage coordination and distribution logistics for subsidised foodgrain supplies.

As part of the arrangement, a transporter is appointed for each district to move foodgrain stocks directly from Food Corporation of India depots to authorised ration shops.

The existing transportation contracts covering the 2022–2025 cycle were awarded under a Government Resolution issued on January 15, 2021, forming the operational framework for statewide foodgrain movement.

As the first phase of those contracts approached completion, covering 21 districts and five ration distribution zones across Mumbai and Thane, preparations began for a fresh tender exercise.

Tender Process Approved Through Cabinet Mechanism

According to official records, the proposal for a new tender process was submitted for approval before the concerned minister, the Chief Minister and the Maharashtra Cabinet.

Subsequently, the Cabinet directed that the process be conducted under the supervision of a committee chaired by the Chief Secretary, adding an administrative oversight mechanism.

After receiving approval from the high-level committee, the state government issued a Government Resolution on April 24, 2026, followed by the publication of independent tenders on April 30.

Government officials maintain that all procedural steps were undertaken through established administrative channels and insist that no work orders have been issued after the court’s interim directions.

Also Read: Maharashtra Higher Education Offices Face Corruption Claims.

Long-Running Differences Between Damania and Bhujbal

The latest dispute also revives a long history of public disagreements between Damania and Bhujbal over governance, public contracts and allegations concerning administrative decision-making.

For several years, Damania has raised concerns regarding the Maharashtra Sadan construction case, which led to investigations into contract awards linked to projects undertaken during Bhujbal’s tenure as PWD minister.

In 2015, the Anti-Corruption Bureau registered a case against Bhujbal and others following a public interest litigation seeking investigation into alleged irregularities involving contracts exceeding Rs 100 crore.

Earlier this year, a special court in Mumbai discharged Bhujbal in that case, marking a significant legal development in a matter that had remained under scrutiny for several years.

As legal proceedings over the PDS transport tender continue, attention will remain focused on the upcoming June 22 hearing, which could shape the future of one of Maharashtra’s largest public distribution contracts. Sprouts News will continue monitoring developments as the matter progresses through the judicial process.

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Editorial Note:

This article is based on publicly available FIR records, court case references, and reports published by multiple media organisations. The information is presented in the context of ongoing investigations and public interest reporting. Sprouts News does not make any judicial determination regarding the individuals mentioned and does not intend to defame any person or organisation. Any individual seeking clarification or wishing to provide an official response may contact the editorial team with verifiable documentation. The information is presented for journalistic and informational purposes.