Rs 60-lakh seed scam at PAU Faridkot farm

Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, January 9

An alleged embezzlement of around 1.2 lakh kg of certified wheat seed worth over Rs 60 lakh at a seed farm of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Faridkot has landed seven officials in trouble.

After an investigation by the Vigilance Bureau, the seven employees of the seed farm, including senior seed specialist Joginder Singh Brar, have been issued charge sheet. Brar has also been shifted to the PAU, Ludhiana.

Though Brar has resigned, the PAU declined to accept his resignation due to the pending inquiry.

The seed farm is spread over 1,210 acres at Bir Sikhanwala village in the district. Over two months of Vigilance probe found that the farm authorities had submitted wrong figures of the total production of wheat seed to the PAU. Against the production of about 16.7 lakh kg of seed, the authorities had reported 15.5 lakh kg.

Jagjit Singh, SSP, Vigilance, said the preliminary investigation had confirmed the misappropriation. “We have submitted the report to the department and are waiting for the further directions. As the PAU has also been apprised of the wrongdoing, the university has also started its independent investigation,” he said.

Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, said: “A detailed probe has been started and all found guilty so far have been shifted and served notices. Three of them have been suspended.”

Following his retirement as director of the seed farm, Brar was re-employed by the PAU as senior seed specialist. However, the control of this seed farm remained with him in the absence of any director. He has claimed innocence and blamed labourers and field coordinators for the fraud.

The embezzlement

• The PAU seed farm at Bir Sikhanwala village in Faridkot collects the stock in jute bags of 50 kg each 
• On the basis of counting of total bags, the farm informs the PAU about the total production
• During 2016-17, the erring officials allegedly filled 7-8 kg excess seed in each bag with intention to embezzle it while repacking in PAU printed bags