A major paddy procurement scam worth over ₹6.55 crore has come to light in Chhattisgarh’s Jashpur district, exposing serious irregularities in the Kharif marketing season 2024–25. The alleged fraud occurred at the Konpara paddy procurement sub-centre under Tumla block, prompting swift action from authorities following a report by the state’s Apex Bank.

Based on the findings submitted by the Nodal Officer of Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Bank Limited, police registered an FIR and initiated an investigation. Shishupal Yadav, a 39-year-old resident of Jharmunda village, has been arrested and placed in judicial custody. Five other accused linked to the procurement process remain absconding, with police intensifying search operations.

Investigators revealed that while official records showed procurement of 1,61,250 quintals of paddy, only 1,40,663.12 quintals were actually transported to mills and storage centres. This resulted in a shortage of 20,586.88 quintals, causing a financial loss of approximately ₹6.38 crore at the government procurement rate of ₹3,100 per quintal.

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The scam’s scale widened further with the discovery that 4,898 gunny bags—both new and old—were missing from stock. Valued at ₹17.07 lakh, the missing bags pushed the total estimated loss to ₹6,55,26,979. A joint investigation team conducted a physical verification and confirmed that the missing stock was nowhere to be found.

Police believe the fraud was carried out through deliberate manipulation of records and diversion of paddy in collusion among officials of the Tribal Service Cooperative Society Limited, Konpara. The accused include the authorised officer, society manager, computer operator, and multiple in-charge officials. Jashpur SP Shashi Mohan Singh said the investigation is ongoing, with efforts focused on arresting the remaining suspects, recovering losses, and ensuring accountability to prevent future scams.

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