Munde Denies Procurement Scam : Maharashtra Minister Refutes Procurement Scam Claims

Mumbai, Feb 4 (NationPress) NCP leader and Maharashtra Minister of Food and Civil Supply Dhananjay Munde firmly dismissed the accusations made by anti-corruption activist Anjali Damania regarding alleged corruption in the procurement of agricultural supplies, including nano fertilisers, during his term as agriculture minister from July 2023 to November 2024.

He asserted that these allegations are entirely unfounded and false, stating that the acquisition of nano fertilisers, electric spray pumps, cotton storage bags, and other agricultural supplies by the Agriculture Department in March 2024 was conducted strictly in line with government directives.

The procurement of these items through the government, excluding distribution via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), was authorized only after obtaining prior approval from the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and Finance Minister.

Munde accused Damania of making these claims solely for sensationalism, emphasizing that both Nano Urea and Nano DAP, the fertilizers acquired by the government, are produced by IFFCO and that the company's pricing is uniform across India, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.

“Thus, to suggest that there was a price discrepancy resulting in a scam worth crores is a clear indication of ignorance,” he remarked.

Furthermore, he explained that when purchasing battery-operated spray pumps, some vendors offer a six-month warranty and repairs within that timeframe in certain states. In contrast, the Maharashtra government mandates a minimum one-year warranty and that repair expenses be covered by the supplying company. These spray pumps were acquired through a competitive bidding process, with Munde noting that the relevant tenders were extended twice to encourage maximum participation in all tender categories.

“During this period, cotton prices were low, leading farmers to be reluctant to sell their cotton. However, due to the pandemic, both the cotton itself and the farmers' families began to suffer from various infectious diseases. When the need for cotton storage bags arose, the necessary purchases were made from a central government company at certified rates,” he explained.

Previously, Damania accused the scheme of Direct Benefit Transfer of being corrupt.

“There has been corruption worth crores in nano urea, nano DAP, battery spares, Metaldehyde pesticide, and cotton collection bags. She alleged that Munde had pocketed extra money for these products. The cost of nano urea is Rs 184 per litre, meaning a 500-millilitre bottle costs Rs 92. However, after the tender chaired by Munde, it was procured at Rs 220. Approximately 19,68,408 bottles were bought at that price, she claimed. The price of Nano DAP is Rs 522 per litre, which means a 500-millilitre bottle is available for only Rs 269. A total of 19,57,438 bottles were acquired at Rs 590. “These two scams amount to Rs 88 crore,” Damania alleged.

She further stated that battery spares were purchased at Rs 3,426, while the market price is Rs 2,450. The Metaldehyde pesticide was acquired at Rs 1,275, against the retail price of Rs 817, to prevent damage to cotton and soybean due to snails.

In response, Munde announced his intention to file a criminal defamation case against Anjali Damania.

In a post on X late Tuesday night, Munde stated: “Anjali Damania has made false and groundless allegations against me by holding a press conference for the second time today. I wish to reiterate that the procurement process in the Agriculture Department was conducted in accordance with regulatory provisions and only proceeded after receiving the Chief Minister's final approval. I will soon file a criminal defamation case in the Bombay High Court against Anjali Damania, who has made numerous other false accusations against me.”