The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has detained five individuals, including the director of the Rajasthan State Seeds Corporation, and arrested one accused after recovering Rs 2.44 crore in cash during an investigation into an illegal network involving the sale and distribution of substandard seeds. The action comes amid the state government's crackdown on the sale and distribution of allegedly substandard seeds and attempts to influence regulatory proceedings.
Details of the Operation
According to ACB DIG Rameshwar Singh, Rs 1.59 crore was recovered from the residence of Jugal Kishore Bishnoi, director of the Rajasthan State Seeds Corporation, while another Rs 85 lakh was seized from Swatantra Bishnoi during an operation in Bikaner district. The ACB stated that Swatantra is Jugal Kishore Bishnoi's nephew.
Jugal Kishore Bishnoi, Gajaraj-brand seed proprietor Kiran Kapadia, Ganpat Bishnoi, Sunil Setia, and Satpal have been detained for questioning, while Swatantra Bishnoi was formally arrested after the cash recovery.
Background of the Crackdown
Over the past few weeks, authorities have raided warehouses, sealed premises, suspended seed sales, and sent samples for laboratory testing. As part of the drive, officials took action against a company owned by Kiran Kapadia that markets Gajaraj-brand groundnut seeds. The company's warehouse was sealed, and samples were collected for testing.
The ACB alleged that Jugal Kishore Bishnoi received around Rs 1.20 crore from Kapadia in exchange for facilitating the return of seized seed stocks to Gujarat and helping suppress regulatory action. Investigators further alleged that another Rs 60 lakh was received by Ganpat Bishnoi.
How the Cash Was Recovered
According to the bureau, it received information that Rs 90 lakh from the alleged bribe amount was being transported to Sri Ganganagar through Swatantra Bishnoi. Acting on the tip-off, an ACB team intercepted a bus at Lunkaransar and recovered Rs 85 lakh in cash.
Preliminary investigation revealed that samples were collected from Kapadia's groundnut seed warehouse during a raid on May 27, and the sale of Gajaraj-brand seeds was subsequently prohibited. Investigators suspect that substantial bribe payments were made to influence official action, secure permission to transport the allegedly fake seeds back to Gujarat, and obtain favorable laboratory reports.
