Karnal Market Secretary among four booked for 'irregularities' in paddy procurement

The Karnal police have registered an FIR in connection with the alleged paddy procurement scam. The FIR has been registered against Asha Rani, Secretary Karnal Market Committee, along with three others — Rajender Kumar of Duhanpur Viran in Indri block, Amit Kumar of Dadupur Roran and Ajay Kumar of Narukheri village for alleged irregularities in the issuance of gate passes during the ongoing paddy procurement season.

Earlier, two FIRs have already been registered involving – one against Taraori Market Committee Secrteary, and four inspectors of Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB), and second FIR against one sub-inspector of Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department and a rice miller. The fresh FIR is the third in the district in the ongoing paddy procurement season.

This FIR has been registered following a random verification by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Sonu Bhatt after reports of irregularities in issuance of gate passes and unusual paddy arrivals at the Karnal’s grain markets were reported.

During the inquiry, it was found that several gate passes were generated from IP addresses located outside the vicinity of the Karnal grain market. The mobile numbers of Rajender Kumar, Amit Kumar and Ajay Kumar were reportedly used to create these passes from multiple locations, raising serious questions about the transparency and monitoring of procurement operations.

“Since these irregularities in the issuance of gate passes have been observed within the operations of the paddy procurement at Karnal grain market, the possible involvement of officials of the Karnal Market Committee cannot be ruled out. The Secretary, Karnal Market Committee, who is directly responsible for ensuring the proper functioning of procurement activities, appears to have failed to discharge her duties effectively in this instance,” said the FIR.

Besides, the report also indicates that Asha Rani allegedly engaged private persons to assist in the issuance of gate passes — a violation of established procurement protocols. The investigation team has said that she may have played an active role in facilitating or allowing such irregularities, necessitating a detailed probe into her involvement.

“We have registered an FIR on the complaint of District Marketing Enforcement Officer (DMEO) Ishwar Singh under Section 318(4) against Asha Rani, Rajendra Kumar, Amit Kumar and Ajay Kumar. Investigation will be conducted from all angles,” said Ganga Ram Punia, Superintendent of Police (SP).

“Action will be taken against those involved in any kind of irregularity in the paddy procurement,” DC Uttam Singh said.

The Tribune has been highlighting the issue of alleged irregularities in the paddy procurement for the past several days, which led to unusual arrival of paddy even after late harvesting and fall in yield, promoting the district administration to set up two ‘nakas’ on Haryana-UP border at Manglora and Shergarh Tapu, along with increasing vigil at grain markets as well as teams have been constituted to verify the actual production with issuance of gate passes.

Besides, the Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh has directed the ADC and SDMs to conduct physical verification of mills to check the stock with allotment of paddy to millers as well as review the CCTV footage of grain markets to check the arrival of vehicles and gate passes.