145 FIRs lodged pan-India for hoarding, black marketing of fertilisers this kharif season

A total of 145 cases have been registered pan-India for illegally hoarding and black marketing of fertilisers during the current kharif season, of which one case was lodged in Punjab and two in Haryana, the Union government informed Parliament on Thursday.

According to a written reply by Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Anupriya Patel in the Lok Sabha, Uttar Pradesh led the crackdown with 47 FIRs (44 for black marketing and 3 for hoarding), followed by Bihar (18) and Maharashtra (15). States like Nagaland (14) and Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Goa, Gujarat, Delhi, and others reported isolated cases.

In Punjab, where 2,323 inspections were conducted April 1 to August 1, one FIR was registered for hoarding. Haryana carried out 4,133 inspections, issued 47 show-cause notices, cancelled 3 licences, and lodged two FIRs—one each for black marketing and hoarding.

The minister said fertilisers are classified as essential commodities under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and are regulated through the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985, and the Fertiliser (Movement Control) Order, 1973. These laws empower state governments to take punitive action against any person or dealer involved in hoarding or black marketing.

As per official data compiled from April 1 to August 1, 2025, a total of 1,58,128 inspections were carried out across the country. These resulted in the issuance of 2,811 show-cause notices, suspension or cancellation of 2,695 licenses, and the registration of 145 FIRs, including 5 for hoarding. Of the five cases lodged, one is registered in Punjab.

Notably, Union Agriculture Minister SHivraj Chouhan had earlier in July written to the Chief Ministers of all states and Union Territories, directing immediate and strict action against the issue of counterfeit and substandard fertilisers. The letter was issued with the objective of curbing the sale of fake fertilisers, black marketing of subsidised fertilisers, and illegal activities such as forced tagging across the country.