Haryana: Paddy worth Rs 5.80 crore missing from Pehowa mill
By Nitish Sharma
The Kurukshetra police have registered a case against a rice miller after paddy stock worth around Rs 5.80 crore was reported missing from a mill at Pehowa during a physical verification.
As per the FIR registered on the complaint of a DFSC official in Kurukshetra, during the 2025-26 kharif season, 39,373.75 quintals of paddy was allotted to the Chaudhary rice mill for custom milling. The department had been conducting physical verification of the stock from time to time. The first verification was conducted on November 25, during which the stock was found to be complete. Subsequently, a team of FCI conducted the physical verification and found the stock okay.
However, during the physical verification on March 17, nearly 24,318.75 quintals of paddy stock, worth around Rs 5.80 crore, was reported missing. The paddy was to be delivered to the FCI after custom milling.
A case was registered against rice miller Bhajan Singh under sections pertaining to criminal breach of trust and cheating of the BNS at the Pehowa Sadar police station. Further investigation was underway.
Meanwhile, the District Food and Supplies Controller (DFSC) has issued show-cause notices to an inspector of the Food and Supplies Department and an Assistant Food and Supplies Officer for alleged negligence in duty.
As per the notice, the inspector and AFSO had failed to submit the fortnightly report regarding the physical verification of the rice mill, which amounted grave negligence on their part.
The DFSC has directed the officials to explain their position by March 24.
An action will be recommended against the officials if their replies were found unsatisfactory, the official added.
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Pehowa) spokesman Prince Waraich said, “During the paddy procurement season, the union had raised the issue of paddy scam in Kurukshetra. We had been protesting and demanding action against commission agents, rice millers and officials involved in the scam, but no action was taken.”
“During the physical verification, a huge quantity of paddy has been reported missing from the mill, vindicating our stand,” he added.
“We have come to know that fake gate passes were issued and officials were involved in the scam. The department should check all rice mills. The government should form an SIT and take appropriate action against all those involved in the scam,” Waraich added.
This article has been republished from The Tribune.