Paddy procurement scam: Seven bank accounts of two mills frozen

Karnal police have intensified their investigation into the alleged multi-crore paddy procurement scam that has dominated headlines, freezing seven bank accounts belonging to two Assandh-based rice mills accused of large-scale irregularities.

As per the police officials, around Rs 85 lakh deposited in these accounts has been seized as part of the ongoing probe, marking a tougher financial clampdown on millers accused of stock shortages.

This step has been taken after the detection of major discrepancies in the stock of two rice mills in Assandh, where Hafed officials and the CM’s flying squad found a shortfall of 24,431 quintals of paddy worth Rs 6.31 crore during a physical verification on November 4 and 5.

On November 11, an FIR was registered at the Assandh police station against Tarsem Kumar, a resident of Nissing and proprietor of Shree Radhe Radhe Rice Mill, and Shishpal, a resident of Assandh and proprietor of Aggarwal Rice Mill.

The FIR was filed on the complaint of Hafed DM Kirpal Das under Sections 316(2), 316(5), 318(4) and 61 of the BNS, said Ganga Ram Punia, Superintendent of Police (SP).

The inspection found a shortage of 15,520.71 quintals of paddy at Shree Radhe Radhe Rice Mill and 8,910.53 quintals at Aggarwal Rice Mill. The police have arrested two proprietors of a mill in this case.

“We have frozen seven accounts belonging to the two mills, and further investigation is underway,” Punia said.

The police are also likely to freeze the bank accounts of other accused involved in similar cases. So far, six FIRs have been registered across different police stations, exposing what investigators describe as a deep nexus involving millers, arhtiyas, employees of the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board and procurement agencies.

The police suspect the involvement of several more officials in the alleged organised network. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a DSP is probing multiple angles. Eight grain markets—Karnal, Gharaunda, Assandh, Taraori, Indri, Nissing, Nigdhu and Jundla—are under scrutiny for discrepancies between this year's and last year's arrivals. Officials believe large-scale proxy procurement may have taken place to adjust paddy and PDS rice from other states in the name of Custom-Milled Rice (CMR).

So far, five accused have been arrested, including suspended mandi supervisor Pankaj Tuli, who was later hospitalised and passed away at PGI Chandigarh on Thursday.