Official suspended for procurement fraud in Odisha’s Nayagarh

Nayagarh: Secretary of the Jemadeipur Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society (PACS) in Nayagarh district, Alekh Chandra Pradhan was suspended today for his alleged involvement in paddy procurement irregularities. The action has been taken against Alekh Chandra on basis of a directive issued by Nayagarh Collector Poma Tudu.

As per reports, Alekh Chandra mentioned himself as a sharecropper and sold 426 quintals of paddy at the mandi whereas his father-in-law and President of the Jemadeipur PACS Antaryami Das participated and sold 150 quintals of paddy. Antaryami, sarpanch of Kridaspur panchayat, and his father-in-law collected a big amount from brokers and undertook the paddy procurement irregularities.

After the matter came to fore the Nayagarh Collector order a probe and took the disciplinary act against Alekh Chandra today.

Alekh Chandra registered the non-agricultural farmland of one Aruna Mohanty, Secretary of an NGO, with the mandi as his own property in Beguniasahi and mentioned himself as a sharecropper.

Similarly, the PACS President cited himself as a sharecropper and registered the non-agricultural land of former Union Minister Dilip Ray’s son and Director of Mayfair Agro International Private Ltd, Sandeep Ray with the State government.

In last two months, four PACS secretaries have been suspended for their alleged involvement in paddy procurement irregularities. After media highlighted about paddy procurement irregularities in Nayagarh district, Itamati, Khamarsahi and Pandiripada PACS Secretaries were suspended.

Based on a directive issued by the Food Supply and Consumer Welfare department, the local administration formed special teams to probe paddy procurement irregularities, added sources.