Punjab State Vigilance Bureau on Friday arrested Pungrain’s (Punjab Grains Procurement Corporation Limited) two Inspectors — Taranjeet Singh and Vikas Sharma — for misappropriation of 10,000 empty gunny bags and causing loss to the state exchequer.
A corruption case has been registered against both the Inspectors besides the owner of Jagdambey Rice Mill Khasa, Amritsar, Vinod Kumar and officials or employees of Amritsar Market Committee for “misuse of bardana” (gunny bags).
Spokesperson said that the Vigilance Bureau Range Amritsar DSP Harpreet Singh have got a tip off that Taranjeet Singh and Vikas Sharma were diverting these gunny bags to a private mill named as Jagdambey Rice Mill which was to be shipped to Bhagatawala Grain Market. This paddy was being bought at a cheaper rate and sold to government at higher rates, added the spokesperson.
In the matter, the Bureau has registered a case against both the accused under sections 406, 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, 120-B of the Indian penal Code (IPC) and 7, 8 Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, at VB police station Amritsar to probe the allegations and further investigation was under progress.
67.05 LMT paddy purchased
The Government agencies and private millers have procured 67.04 lakh (67,04,838) metric tonnes of paddy in Punjab till October 24 while payment worth Rs 6,781.60 crore has been transferred to the accounts of arhtiyas (commission agents or the farmers by the Government, rendering MSP benefits to 4,53,697 farmers.
The Government spokesperson said that out of the total procurement from various procurement centres in the State, the Government agencies procured 66.29 lakh (66,29,445) MT of paddy while 75,393 MT has been procured by the millers.
Pungrain has procured 26.90 lakh (26,90,973) tonnes, Markfed 17.45 lakh (17,45,143) tonnes and Punsup procured 1.20 lakh (1,20,776) tonnes while Punjab State Warehousing Corporation procured 7.94 lakh (7,94,307) MT paddy. The Central Government agency, Foood Corporation of India (FCI), has procured 1.08 lakh (1,08,246) MT paddy.
As per the 72 hours norm, 92.55 per cent lifting of the purchased paddy has been achieved.
