Police nab accused in grain fraud case, sent to 14-day judicial custody

Phagwara, November 15

In a significant development in the ongoing investigation into large-scale misappropriation of government grain stocks, the Phagwara police secured 14 days of judicial custoday for Satpal Singh, an employee accused of orchestrating a multi-layered fraud involving government wheat, rice and grain bags (bardana).

The development followed a press conference by Phagwara Superintendent of Police (SP) Madhvi Sharma, who disclosed major recoveries and new leads pointing to a broader network of corruption.

SP Sharma stated that Satpal Singh, a resident of Gilco Green on Hoshiarpur Road, was arrested after authorities recovered 1,500 empty government grain bags (bardana) from his possession. According to the SP, Singh had “illegally procured government bardana and used it to pack wheat flour, which he later sold in the open market for personal gain.”

Preliminary investigation further revealed that Singh diverted wheat and rice to a private firm, Kalucha Agro, suggesting that the misappropriation was part of a well-planned nexus rather than an isolated act. Another accused, Sonek Kalucha, has been named in the case and is currently absconding, with police making active efforts to trace and apprehend him.

“Multiple FIRs under relevant sections of the BNSS and the Prevention of Corruption Act have already been registered against Satpal Singh across various police stations in Kapurthala district,” SP Sharma said. She added that more revelations are expected as the interrogation continues, and additional arrests cannot be ruled out.

Following his arrest, Singh was produced before a judicial magistrate today, who ordered 14 days of judicial remand, marking a crucial stage in the investigation.

This development is linked to an earlier case in which Singh—then a technical assistant with the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation—was arrested on November 7 while allegedly attempting to flee the country with his family. A look-out circular issued against him led to his detention at Delhi International Airport, after which he was brought to Phagwara on a production warrant and remanded to two days’ police custody.

The previous arrest stemmed from a physical inspection of the Corporation’s Hadiaabad warehouse, where officials found nearly 2,000 wheat bags missing from government records: 1,595 bags from the Rabi 2024–25 stock and 395 bags from the Rabi 2025–26 stock. Inspectors noted that the discrepancies indicated deliberate manipulation rather than clerical oversight. Police allege that Singh, serving as Centre Incharge, had tampered with stock entries and diverted grain for illegal sale.

Following a complaint by Warehousing Corporation official Tejinder Kaur, a case of criminal breach of trust and embezzlement was registered under Section 409 of the IPC.

With fresh recoveries, additional FIRs and expanding investigative angles, the police believe the case may expose a much larger fraud network.