Over Rs 3-cr wheat scam in procurement centre in MP

RAJGARH, MP, May 12: The district administration has unearthed a scam to the tune of Rs 3.60 crore during a raid at a wheat procurement centre and directed registering of a criminal case against five officials, official sources said today.
Following the directives of Collector MB Ojha, a team led by Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue) Tarun Rathi raided at Pachor centre yesterday and detected irregularities.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the officials concerned tampered with official records and e-procurement system to purchase wheat on the basis of huge tracts of  land.
Fourteen farmers were identified from whom 26,000 quintal wheat was purchased and were paid Rs 3.6 crore, though their actual production could not be more than 1,200 quintal on the basis of their actual land.
Sources said that Kailash Chandra, for instance, owns no land as per revenue records but wheat was purchased showing he had 359.300 hectare. Likewise, Puralal owns 2.745 hectares, but was shown to possess 321.750 hectares.
Prima facie, Sarangpur Food Inspector Ashok Saxena, Mandi Secretary Ramnarayan Kurmi, Pachor Agriculture Credit Cooperative Society RB Sisodiya and Central Cooperative Bank’s Pachor Branch Manager SS Chandrawat have been found guilty.
The investigating team has sealed the record of wheat purchased at the centre so far.
Mr Ojha said that detailed investigation will be carried out into the matter and strict action will be taken against guilty.
Significantly, there are 37 wheat procurement centres in this  district.
(UNI)