Foiling the bid to pump cheap paddy brought from other states into Punjab Mandis, the food and civil supplies department on a tip- off conducted a raid and found 5000 bags of Bihar paddy in United Agro Industries Rice Mills, Khanna .Giving details the chief Vigilance Officer of the department, Dr Rakesh Kumar Singla informed that two trucks full of nearly 4100 bags of paddy from Bihar were found on the spot and the contents of the third truck were off loaded in the mill premises. On enquiry, the drivers gave the statement that they had brought the Paddy from Muzaffarnagar in Bihar and the bills and the bilties of the content were taken from them on reaching the mill premises by a motorcyclist who was reportedly send there by the mill owner. The mill owner did not produce any document pertaining to the Purchase of paddy.
Prima facie this appears to be an attempt to to sell paddy purchased at cheaper rates from other states in Punjab Mandis,said Singla and explained that the modus operandi for the same is to arrange bogus auction of such paddy which is purchased from other states at about Rs 800 to 900 and sell in Punjab Mandis at MSP of Rs.1770 and earn the direct profit from the transaction as well as commission on selling it in Mandi. After milling the rice obtained is admixtured into the rice to be handed over to FCI. Such tricks are apparently being played by commission agents who are engaged in milling as well,said he.Investigation is on and action will be taken as per law. Market committee Khanna has been intimated for action and physical verification of the stock of the mill as well as recording of statements of farmers for verification of purchase records is underway.It is pertinent to mention that within a month, the Punjab Food and civil supplies department through a series of raids has unearthed nearly 2.5 lakh bags of paddy and 2 lakh bags of previous years rice set to be pumped into Punjab KMS 2018 -19.