'Ghost procurement': How agencies colluded to pull off multi-crore scam in Karnal
Allegedly benefited private players
The arrest of five employees of three government procurement agencies posted at various grain markets in Karnal has blown the lid off a well-organised, multi-crore paddy procurement scam during the 2025-26 procurement season.
Preliminary investigations indicate that procurement staff allegedly worked in collusion with officials and employees of the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB), arhtiyas, rice millers, and others to execute the scam. Bogus gate passes were issued for the lifting of paddy.
Sources revealed that records were systematically manipulated to show inflated purchases. In several cases, paddy that never arrived at mandis was shown as procured, while paddy from other states was adjusted against bogus procurement in rice mills.
Related news: Karnal: Paddy procurement agencies under lens
“Employees and officials of procurement agencies were supposed to ensure smooth procurement, instead, some of them were found issuing bogus gate passes,” said Narender Bijarniya, SP.
Farmer organisations have accused agencies of betraying the trust of the government as well as farmers. Bahadur Singh Mehla, spokesperson of BKU (Sir Chhotu Ram), said during procurement season, farmers were made to wait on technical grounds, or their crops were bought at throwaway prices, while corrupt officials allegedly facilitated fraudulent purchases to benefit private players.
