Paddy scam: Anticipatory bail of market panel secy, subordinate rejected

The court of Additional Sessions Judge Rajneesh Kumar has rejected the anticipatory bail pleas of Asha Rani, secretary of the Karnal Market Committee, and her subordinate Yashpal in connection with an alleged ‘ghost’ paddy procurement scam involving the use of fake gate passes to show fictitious arrivals of paddy.

SP Ganga Ram Punia said the police presented all facts before the court, which led to the rejection of the bail pleas.

“Asha Rani allegedly misused the master ID assigned to her by the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB) to issue fake passes in the names of non-existent farmers, showing paddy arrivals that never took place. The passes were generated from different IP addresses outside the grain market to create a gap between the recorded and actual procurement of paddy,” the police told the court.

The police believe that this artificial gap was to be filled later by illegally purchasing paddy from other states where the crop is cheaper.

Yashpal, posted at Taraori grain market, had been given additional charge of the Karnal grain market. Police sources said evidence suggested he played a key role in planning and coordinating the gate pass operation.

A suspended mandi supervisor, Pankaj Tuli, has already been arrested and is on police remand.

Meanwhile, in another FIR registered at Assandh police station, the police have arrested two rice millers—Shishpal, proprietor of the mill, and Sunil Kumar, reportedly the operator of the mill. “Both were arrested under an FIR registered on November 11. Efforts are on to nab the other accused,” said Naseeb Singh, SHO, Assandh.

The case was registered after 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. An FIR has been registered against Tarsem Kumar, an owner of a mill; and Shishpal of another mill on the complaint of HAFED District Manager Kirpal Das.

So far, four FIRs have been registered in different police stations across the district in connection with procurement irregularities. With the arrest of three accused, including a suspended mandi supervisor and two millers, several arhtiyas, millers, and officials have reportedly gone underground.

Meanwhile, an official said the procurement of parmal paddy would only be carried only on November 14, which was the last day of procurement. All arhtiyas had been instructed to inform farmers to avoid inconvenience during the final day of procurement.