FIR filed for wheat seed subsidy embezzlement in Haryana

The Haryana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has filed a police report against Rajesh Kumar, a salesman, and other officials linked to a wheat seed subsidy fraud. This action comes after a directive from the Punjab and Haryana High Court on May 9, 2024. The court requested a thorough investigation into the alleged scam based on a farmer's complaint from 2021. The investigation began when farmer Jasbir Ram complained about irregularities in seed distribution. He claimed that officials at the Haryana Seeds Development Corporation (HSDC) created false records. These records showed that farmers bought more wheat seeds than they actually did, leading to financial loss for the government. ACB's investigation focused on centres in Pinjore, Ganeshpur Bhoria, and Barwala, where 1,837 farmers received wheat seeds. A random check found that 222 farmers had accurate purchase records, but issues were noted with 28 farmers. Some farmers reported they bought less wheat than stated, while others had their names falsely listed as seed purchasers without actually buying any. The investigation revealed that Rajesh Kumar had inflated the purchase amounts and fabricated sales for several farmers. Key records, such as sales and stock logs for 2020-21, were also missing from the HSDC's files. After completing their investigation, the ACB sent their findings to the Haryana government. In response, charges were filed against Kumar and others under several sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.