Fake fertiliser racket busted; accused points finger towards TN

A detailed probe has established that a systematic network from Tamil Nadu is behind the sale of fake fertiliser in the State.

After the sale of fake potash came to light at Hanubalu cooperative society, the accused Mallikarjun of Nittur was subjected to interrogation. He spilled the beans over the sale of fake fertiliser racket in the State, which he said was being operated from Tamil Nadu.
The sale of fake fertiliser has given sleepless nights to the farmers, who were already reeling under various problems including that of wild jumbo menace and insufficient rains.
The sale of fake potash to farmers from Agriculture Credit Cooperative Society in Hanubalu and at Changadihalli, Belur and Narve villages had come to light recently. Three persons from Belur and four from the taluks are already in judicial custody.

Assistant Director of Agriculture department G H Yogesh, who is conducting the probe said that the fake product was supplied from Tamil Nadu to Mallikarjuna of Nittur, which was in turn supplied to Naganna of Yaduru village in Alur taluk.

This was transported to the cooperative associations and a few shops through locals Virupaksha and Milan Gowda, and was sold to gullible farmers.

Yogesh had visited Vaniyambadi in Vellore district in Tamil Nadu, where fake potash was being produced for verification. According to him, there are several leather factories in Vaniyambadi, where salt is being used for processing and preventing leather from decaying. The miscreants after collecting the discarded salt, sieve it and mix it with red oxide and red colour and prepare fake potash.

The fake potash is sold at Rs 160 to agents across the State, who in turn sell it to a whopping Rs 780 per bag to the traders. By the time it reaches the hands of the farmers, the price per bag is Rs 890.

Devaraj of Permalpet, Vaniyambadi taluk, Venkatesh of Mallankuppam village, Babu, Murthy and Kumar of Valliambet are the accused. Police have already arrested Devaraj and have spread net for the others.

Police have been successful in tracing the racket and arrested the accused within two weeks. It may be recalled that the sale of fake potash was also discussed in the Assembly recently.