The Supreme Court's rebuke to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) over the cancellation of two high-value infrastructure tenders has fuelled political controversy with pressure intensifying on Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde.

Allegations of a Rs 3,000-crore scam in the Thane-Ghodbunder-Bhayandar Elevated Road and Tunnel Project prompted demands for Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde’s immediate resignation and a judicial probe to unearth corruption in infrastructure projects across Maharashtra.

The MMRDA, which is headed by Shinde in his capacity as the Urban Development Minister, informed the Supreme Court on May 30 that it had voluntarily cancelled tenders related to the Rs 6,000-crore Mumbai Elevated Road Project and the Rs. 8,000-crore Road Tunnel Project. This decision was reportedly aimed at “safeguarding larger public interest” and ensuring the “optimal use of taxpayers' money.”

However, the move has sparked an avalanche of political backlash. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on May 31 accused Shinde of malfeasance and called for his immediate dismissal from the cabinet.

“Why should the government back down? No contractor goes against the government for just one tender. This is a scam, plain and simple,” Thackeray said. 

“Cancelling a tender does not automatically mean the process was clean. There was a sword hanging over the MMRDA, which is why they were forced to cancel it. Shinde’s corruption is evident. He must be sacked until a fair probe is completed,” he urged. 

Thackeray urged chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to hand over the investigation to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), the Enforcement Directorate (ED), or the Income Tax Department. He also demanded that the CM take over the MMRDA directly to prevent further misuse of public funds.

The Supreme Court’s intervention came during a plea by infrastructure major Larsen & Toubro (L&T), which had challenged its disqualification from the bidding process. The Court questioned the transparency and integrity of the tendering procedure, which, according to Thackeray, had questionable clauses favouring select contractors.

Amid the growing controversy, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Harshwardhan Sapkal leveled serious allegations, directly accusing CM Fadnavis and Deputy CM Shinde of accepting a Rs 3,000-crore bribe.

“The real scandal is not just in this one project. This is part of a massive corruption network involving MMRDA, MHADA, CIDCO, and SRA — all functioning as a tight circle ever since Shinde became Chief Minister,” said Sapkal.