Water Test Uncovers Clay Mustard Scam in Madhya Pradesh Warehouse
A straightforward water test has exposed a disturbing mustard adulteration scam in Madhya Pradesh, revealing that what appeared to be common kitchen spice was actually nothing more than clay granules. The shocking discovery was made during an inspection by officials from the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED), who were acting on a formal complaint regarding suspicious stock.
Simple Test Reveals Elaborate Fraud
When NAFED officials visited a warehouse in Sagar district to examine mustard seeds stored there, they conducted a basic water test that yielded alarming results. As they placed a handful of the supposed seeds into a bowl of water, the granules dissolved completely within minutes, confirming they were not genuine mustard. Subsequent investigation revealed that nearly 40% of the mustard stock, which had been procured according to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme set by the central government, consisted entirely of clay granules.
This discovery serves as a chilling reminder of how easily food safety can be compromised within the supply chain. The fraud represents a grave risk to consumers, according to NAFED officials, who filed a First Information Report (FIR) on January 17 against five individuals involved in the case.
How the Scam Came to Light
The adulteration was uncovered after NAFED auctioned mustard stored at an MP Warehousing and Logistics Corporation godown in Rehli, Sagar district, to a firm based in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh. During the lifting of the stock, the buyer raised concerns that a significant portion of the produce appeared suspicious and of questionable quality.
Following this complaint, NAFED officials conducted thorough inspections in the presence of warehouse authorities, cooperative society representatives, and quality surveyors. These inspections confirmed the widespread adulteration. "To the naked eye, the granules looked exactly like mustard seeds, but subsequent water and laboratory tests confirmed they were made of clay," explained Ranjit Kumar Singh, deputy manager at NAFED's Bhopal office.
Details of the Procurement and Fraud
According to the FIR, NAFED had procured approximately 8,950 quintals of mustard during the 2024-25 rabi season through two cooperative societies operating in Rehli. Of this total procurement:
- More than 8,600 quintals were sold through auction
- Approximately 300 quintals remained stocked in the warehouse
The procurement was carried out at a rate of Rs 2,650 per quintal, following the Centre's MSP scheme designed to support farmers. The officials booked in the case face multiple charges including:
- Cheating
- Criminal conspiracy
- Violations under the Food Safety and Standards Act
Those implicated include managers of the cooperative societies, two surveyors from a quality assessment agency, and the then branch manager of the state warehousing corporation.
Procedural Violations and Systemic Concerns
Investigators have identified serious procedural violations that enabled this fraud to occur. These include:
- The absence of mandatory farmer identification codes on gunny bags
- Missing safeguards meant to ensure traceability of agricultural produce
This blatant adulteration has raised significant questions about quality control, accountability, and oversight in government-backed food procurement systems. Officials acknowledge that such fraud could have had serious implications for consumers if it had gone undetected.
"This isn't just about financial loss; such adulteration poses a direct threat to public health," emphasized Singh, highlighting the broader implications beyond mere economic fraud.
The case underscores vulnerabilities in agricultural procurement systems and emphasizes the need for stricter monitoring and verification processes to prevent similar food safety breaches in the future.
