Ex-Dy Director booked for selling subsidised seed in open market

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, February 18

A former Deputy Director, Agriculture, Panchkula, has been booked for allegedly committing a fraud by selling 150 quintal of seeds, which were received from the state government for distribution among farmers at subsidied rates, in market at higher prices.

The complaint

• The complainant, Vikas Sharma, a resident of Chhota Trilokpur in Raipur Rani, stated that the state government had allocated 300 quintal of “dhaincha” seed to Panchkula for distribution among farmers of Pinjore, Barwala and Raipur Rani blocks for green manuring.
• “The allocated seeds were to be distributed through the Haryana Seed Development Corporation counter in Barwala. By intimidating junior employees at Barwala, the then Deputy Director (Agriculture) sold 150 quintals of seed in open market at higher prices,” the complainant alleged.

A case was registered under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant) and 420 (cheating) of the IPC against Wazir Singh, the then Deputy Director of Agriculture.

According to the complainant, Vikas Sharma, a resident of Chhota Trilokpur in Raipur Rani, the state government had allocated 300 quintal of “dhaincha” seed to Panchkula for distribution among farmers of Pinjore, Barwala and Raipur Rani blocks for green manuring.

“The allocated seeds were supposed to be distributed through the Haryana Seed Development Corporation counter in Barwala. By intimidating junior employees under the Block Agriculture Officer, Barwala, the then Deputy Director (Agriculture) sold 150 quintals of seed in open market at higher prices due to its high demand,” the complainant alleged.

It was also alleged that Wazir Singh also committed a fraud in preparation of list of beneficiaries.

“Earlier, in 2020 and 2021, 18 to 20 panchyats in Panchkula had passed a resolution against the then Deputy Director (Agriculture) for depriving the farm beneficiaries of various government schemes. A proposal for the transfer of the senior agriculture officer was also submitted to Haryana Speaker and local MLA Gian Chand Gupta and deputation of an honest officer in his place,” the FIR further mentioned.

Inspector Rajesh Kumar, SHO, Raipur Rani police station, said the suspect was currently posted in Narnaul and they would soon interrogate him.

According to the investigating officer in the case, the matter was taken up at a meeting of the District Public Relations and Grievance Redressal Committee held at the PWD Rest House, Sector 1, last year following which a three-member panel was constituted to investigate the matter. The panel in its report suggested action against the official, he added.

Wazir Singh couldn’t be contacted for his comment on the issue. —

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