The Orissa High Court has settled the three-month-old controversy over the sale of Kendu leaf in favour of the state-owned Orissa Forest Development Corporation (OFDC). The Court dismissed the petition filed by the Federation of Bidi, Bidi Leaf & Tobacco Merchants that has challenged the invitation of bids by OFDC for sale of Kendu leaf. OFDC had sold 2.57 lakh quintals for Rs 75 crore through auction sale. The remaining stock of 1.77 lakh quintals were sold through the tender-cum-negotiation process and invited bids from traders and bidi manufacturers.