A sub-inspector (SI) of the Haryana Police has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a case related to paddy shortage and wrongful allotment of grains. The arrest was made by the Haryana State Vigilance Bureau on Wednesday. The accused, identified as SI Kuldeep Singh, was posted at the police station in Ladwa, Kurukshetra district.
Details of the Case
According to a spokesperson of the Vigilance Bureau, the case pertains to irregularities at a procurement center in the Ladwa area during the 2022-23 marketing season. The SI was allegedly involved in facilitating the wrongful allotment of paddy to certain millers, leading to a shortage of paddy meant for the public distribution system. The investigation revealed that the accused, in connivance with others, manipulated records to show a higher quantity of paddy than actually procured.
Modus Operandi
The Vigilance Bureau spokesperson explained that the SI and his accomplices allegedly created fake entries in the procurement register, showing that paddy was purchased from farmers when, in fact, it was not. This resulted in a shortage of paddy in the government godowns. The wrongful allotment was made to millers who paid bribes for the same. The total amount of paddy involved is estimated to be worth several lakh rupees.
The arrest was made after a thorough investigation, and the accused was produced before a local court, which remanded him to judicial custody. Further investigations are underway to identify other officials and millers involved in the scam.
Reactions and Impact
The arrest has sent shockwaves through the Haryana Police department, with senior officials vowing to take strict action against any personnel found guilty of corruption. The state government has also ordered an inquiry into the matter to ensure that such irregularities do not occur in the future. The case highlights the challenges in the procurement system and the need for better monitoring and transparency.
Farmers in the region have expressed concern over the incident, stating that such malpractices harm their interests and undermine the credibility of the procurement process. They have demanded that the guilty be punished severely and that measures be implemented to prevent recurrence.
