Ghost paddy probe in Karnal uncovers ‘full-blown scam’

The alleged ‘ghost procurement’ of paddy in Karnal has now widened into what investigators describe as a full-fledged procurement scam, with police uncovering a trail of fake gate passes, inflated government payments and purchases of “crops that never existed”.

Police teams, while probing six FIRs registered across the district, have recorded statements of several farmers — statements that officials say confirm manipulation at multiple levels of the procurement chain. A police officer associated with the probe said many farmers have admitted to receiving payments higher than what was recorded on the “kachi parchis” (raw slips) issued to them, and in several cases, even for paddy they never sold.

The farmers further revealed that they were later pressured to return the excess money to arhtiyas, pointing to a coordinated ploy to siphon off the difference. “These statements form a direct link in the scam. They show prima facie manipulation of procurement records and routing of inflated payments through farmers’ accounts,” the officer said.

Farmers have long alleged that raw slips were issued at rates Rs 100 to Rs 700 below the MSP, often citing high moisture content. However, the government’s bank transfers reflected full MSP payments, revealing a deliberate margin allegedly diverted up the chain.

BKU (Sir Chhotu Ram) leaders have termed it systemic exploitation.

“The accounts of every affected farmer must be scrutinised. This is not a minor lapse, it is organised exploitation. Farmers cannot be made scapegoats for a scam engineered elsewhere,” said BKU spokesperson Bhadur Singh Mehla.

Police suspect the racket may involve more officials and could include large-scale proxy procurement to adjust paddy and PDS rice from other states under the garb of Custom-Milled Rice (CMR). Five persons have been arrested so far, including suspended mandi supervisor Pankaj Tuli, who later died at PGI Chandigarh.

Karnal grain market secretary Asha Rani and auction recorder Yashpal have been suspended in an FIR alleging issuance of fake gate passes from multiple IP addresses outside the mandi. Asha Rani’s anticipatory bail was rejected, but she has now secured a stay on arrest till November 28 from the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Superintendent of Police Ganga Ram Punia said investigations in all six FIRs are in progress. “The SIT headed by a DSP is verifying facts in all the FIRs. We got success on some points and soon we will disclose the outcome,” he said.