Rajasthan Government Initiates SOG Investigation into PM Crop Insurance Scheme Irregularities
In a significant development, Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Kirori Lal Meena declared on Monday that the state government will order a Special Operations Group (SOG) probe into alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). The announcement was made during a session of the Rajasthan Assembly, where Meena leveled serious accusations against an insurance company for withholding approximately ₹128 crore in crop damage claims owed to farmers.
Allegations of Organized Crime and Mafia Activity
Responding to a question posed by BJP MLA Babu Singh Rathore, Minister Meena described the situation as "organized crime" within the scheme, asserting that a "mafia" has been actively operating in the crop insurance sector. He emphatically stated that the government is committed to preventing farmers from being cheated and will take stringent action against those responsible.
Meena detailed that some insurance payments remain pending due to various administrative hurdles, including non-verification of bank accounts and Aadhaar details, the death of insured farmers, or failures in NEFT transactions. To address these issues, district collectors have been instructed to expedite the completion of account verification, Aadhaar authentication, and succession certificate formalities. Once these processes are finalized, payments will be disbursed without any further delay.
Financial Impact and Government Response
The minister provided a comprehensive financial overview, revealing that the current government has paid ₹6,328 crore in insurance claims for both Rabi and Kharif crops. However, an additional ₹188 crore from the previous government's tenure is still pending. Meena highlighted a specific case in the Karanpur area of Sriganganagar district, where an inspection uncovered that the insurance company's surveyor had signed intimation forms on behalf of farmers, agriculture supervisors, and revenue officials.
Out of 1.70 lakh forms examined, a staggering 32,000 forms indicated zero crop damage despite actual losses ranging between 50-70%. This discrepancy has resulted in an estimated loss of ₹128 crore to farmers. In response, an FIR has been registered at Rawla, and police investigations are currently underway. Preliminary findings point to Kshema Insurance Company being at fault, prompting the state government to write to the central government requesting that no further tenders be awarded to this company.
Additional Fraud Cases and Widespread Irregularities
Minister Meena also brought attention to an alleged fraud case in Salasar, where 71 fake bank accounts were opened in farmers' names at a State Bank of India branch. Premium deductions were processed through these fraudulent accounts using forged documents, potentially leading to a wrongful payment of ₹9 crore from both central and state governments. An FIR has been registered in this case as well, with the name of AIC company emerging during the investigation.
Furthermore, irregularities have been reported from several other districts, including Sanchore, Jalore, Churu, Nagaur, and Bikaner. Meena emphasized that these incidents underscore the need for a thorough and transparent investigation to restore trust in the PMFBY and ensure that farmers receive their rightful claims. The SOG probe aims to uncover the full extent of the fraud and hold accountable those involved in these malpractices.
