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Foiling the bid to pump cheap paddy brought from other states into Punjab Mandis (grain markets) for getting higher minimum support price (MSP), the Food and Civil Supplies Department has recovered 5,000 bags of paddy from Bihar at United Agro Industries Rice Mills, Khanna.
Giving details, the chief vigilance officer of the department, Rakesh Kumar Singla informed that two trucks full of nearly 4,100 bags of paddy from Bihar were found at the spot and the contents of the third truck were offloaded in the mill premises.
On inquiry, the drivers gave the statement that they had brought the paddy from Muzaffarnagar in Bihar and the bills and the bilties (waybill) of the content were taken from them on reaching the mill premises by a motorcyclist who was reportedly sent there by the mill owner. The mill owner did not produce any document pertaining to the purchase of paddy.
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Prima facie this appears to be an attempt to sell paddy purchased at cheaper rates from other states in Punjab Mandis, said Singla. He said the modus operandi for the same is to arrange a bogus auction of such paddy which is purchased from other states at about Rs 800 to 900 and sold in Punjab Mandis at MSP of Rs 1770 thereby earning direct profit from the transaction as well as commission on selling it in a Mandi.
After milling, the rice obtained is admixtured into the rice to be handed over to Food Corporation of India. Such tricks are apparently being played by commission agents who are engaged in milling as well, he said.
An investigation is on and action will be taken as per law. Market committee Khanna has been intimated for action and physical verification of the stock of the mill as well as the recording of statements of farmers for verification of purchase records is underway.
It is pertinent to mention that within a month, the Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Department, through a series of raids, has unearthed nearly 2.5 lakh bags of paddy and 2 lakh bags of previous years’ rice set to be pumped into Punjab.
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