Madhya Pradesh: Huge wheat procurement scam worth crores uncovered
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Representational.
Bhopal: A major procurement scam has surfaced in Madhya Pradesh after investigators found that wheat worth crores of rupees was allegedly sold at government procurement centres by misusing the land records of farmers, exposing serious irregularities in the state's Minimum Support Price system.
The alleged fraud has been detected in Morena, Bhind and Rajgarh districts, where survey numbers belonging to Scheduled Caste farmers were reportedly used to register fake procurement transactions. The Economic Offences Wing has launched an investigation into the racket.
Investigators found that wheat was purchased from neighbouring Uttar Pradesh at rates between Rs 2,200 and Rs 2,400 per quintal before being sold at Madhya Pradesh procurement centres at the MSP of Rs 2,600 per quintal, generating illegal profits.
Officials were shocked to find registrations approved despite the absence of partnership agreements, written consent from actual landowners or legal documents establishing cultivation rights. No scrutiny was reportedly carried out at the tehsil level despite glaring irregularities in the applications.
To avoid detection, the wheat was allegedly sold at procurement centres located far from the land records used in the transactions. Investigators have so far identified fraudulent sales exceeding 18,000 quintals.
The probe began after the district collector received confidential information about irregularities in land records. Preliminary findings indicate the scam was not an isolated incident but part of an organised economic fraud targeting government procurement centres.
Fifteen patwaris have been suspended in Morena, while show-cause notices have been issued to the Joura and Banmore tehsildars. Four people posing as farmers have been booked in Bhind. Investigators are now examining the possible involvement of departmental officials and cooperative society employees, with further arrests expected.