Balasore: Thousands of quintals of kharif paddy were reportedly procured from deceased and landless farmers through Kasipada Cooperative Society in this district in 2015-16 due to an unholy nexus between civil supplies officials, cooperative officials and millers.
According to a report, some cooperative staff had engaged agents, who purchased paddy from farmers for Rs 700 to Rs 800 per quintal. The procured paddy was subsequently sold to the government through the society for Rs 1,460 per quintal by registering the names of deceased and landless farmers.
People of many villages had earlier drawn the attention of the assistant registrar of cooperative societies (Balasore), the authorities of Balasore-Bhadrak Central Cooperative Bank (BCCB) and even the Vigilance department towards such wrongdoings, but no step has been taken in this direction.
According to sources, 198.42 quintal of paddy was procured from Adikand Padhi, who was shown as father of Satyaprakash Padhi, the secretary of the cooperative society. But information sought through RTI queries from Rupsa revenue inspector revealed that in reality, there is no such person like Adikand Padhi in the area.
Besides, Nityananda Padhi, a relative of the society’s secretary, has reportedly sold 55 quintal of paddy, though in reality he is landless.
Furthermore, the society has procured 100.92 quintal of paddy from a deceased farmer Jagabandhu Parida, said Rabindra Senapati, Bansidhar Behera, Bijay Behera of Rupsa.
It was learnt that the fraud was committed by paddy traders and cooperative society staff.
It is suspected that the money of the deceased farmers might have been withdrawn with forged signatures.
However, the society’s secretary dismissed the allegation, though he admitted that his father’s name was inadvertently entered.
Himansu Das, manager of BCCB’s Sadar branch, said allegations were received in this regard and stern action will be taken after an investigation into them next week. PNN