Cheap paddy from Bihar seized in Punjab

An attempt to pump in cheap paddy brought from other states into Punjab grain markets was foiled by the government on Tuesday after it confiscated 5000 bags of paddy from Bihar.

The paddy was stocked in United Agro Industries Rice Mills in Khanna town of Ludhiana district, Punjab. Chief Vigilance Officer, Food and Supplies Department, Rakesh Kumar Singla said that two trucks full of nearly 4100 bags of paddy from Bihar were found on the spot and the contents of the third truck were offloaded in the mill premises.

On enquiry, the drivers gave the statement that they had brought the paddy from Muzaffarnagar in Bihar and the bills of the goods were taken from them on reaching the mill premises. The mill owner did not produce any document pertaining to the purchase of paddy.

Prima facie it appears to be an attempt to sell paddy purchased at cheaper rates from other states to be sold in Punjab grain markets, said Singla.

Explaining the modus operandi, he said, paddy is purchased by bogus auction from other states at about Rs 800 to Rs 900 and sold in Punjab Mandis at MSP of Rs 1770. This way, traders make huge profits. Such tricks are apparently being played by commission agents who are engaged in milling as well, he said.

In the last one month, the Punjab Food and civil supplies department through a series of raids have unearthed nearly 2.5 lakh bags of paddy and 2 lakh bags of rice set to be pumped into Punjab.