Fake farmer registrations used to sell cheap moong to govt at MSP in MP

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has registered a case against three cooperative society operators in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district for allegedly creating fake farmer registrations and selling moong bought cheaply from the market to the government at minimum support price (MSP).

The alleged fraud took place at Krishak Seva Sahakari Samitis in Dehri Kala, Bharkachh Kala and Googalwada under the Badi branch of the Raisen District Cooperative Bank during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 moong procurement seasons.

According to the EOW investigation, computer operator Shriram Thakur, cooperative employee Ranjeet Thakur and computer operator Gaurav Thakur allegedly used agricultural land records belonging to farmers who had not registered to sell moong under the government procurement scheme.

The alleged modus operandi was to create registrations using the farmers’ land details and then procure moong from the open market at substantially lower prices. The produce was subsequently sold at government procurement centres in the names of the registered farmers at MSP, allowing the accused to pocket the difference, investigators alleged.

The EOW has estimated the combined wrongful gain to the three accused at around Rs 13.35 lakh, with a corresponding loss to the government.

Shriram Thakur allegedly used two registrations covering a combined 12.627 hectares to sell 151.524 quintals of moong. The government paid around Rs 13.15 lakh for the produce, while investigators estimated that it had been purchased for about Rs 4.54 lakh, resulting in an alleged profit of nearly Rs 8.61 lakh.

Ranjeet Thakur allegedly registered 3.523 hectares and sold 42.276 quintals, receiving around Rs 3.67 lakh from the government. His alleged profit was estimated at Rs 2.40 lakh. Gaurav Thakur allegedly used a 3.428-hectare registration to sell 41.136 quintals for around Rs 3.57 lakh, with an estimated profit of Rs 2.34 lakh.

The case came to light after farmers allegedly discovered that their land had been used for registrations they had never made. Investigators recorded statements from farmers who said they had neither given consent for the registrations nor received any money from the alleged sales.

The investigation also found that some bank account details linked to the registrations did not belong to the farmers whose land records had been used, according to the reports.

The alleged irregularities had previously been examined by the cooperative department in two separate inquiries. Those inquiries had found violations and recommended action against some of the accused, but the department's action was limited to disciplinary measures, according to the EOW findings reported in the case.

The EOW registered the FIR on September 8 under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to cheating, forgery, use of forged documents and criminal conspiracy. The investigation is continuing.