THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, Dec. 16: BJP state president and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi has written a detailed letter to Chief Minister Hemant Soren, alleging large-scale corruption in the paddy procurement scheme in Gumla district and demanding immediate registration of FIRs, dismissal of guilty officers, and complete transparency in the procurement process across Jharkhand.
In his letter, Marandi claimed that an official inquiry has already confirmed massive irregularities in paddy procurement by LAMPS, but despite clear recommendations for action, the state government has failed to act against the accused officials.
Allegations of Collusion by Supply Officials and LAMPS Office-Bearers
According to Marandi’s letter, the District Supply Officer, Block Supply Officer, LAMPS Chairman and Secretary, along with Sonu Kumar Verma, a computer operator working at the State Food Corporation, allegedly colluded to divert benefits meant for genuine farmers to middlemen and their associates. He alleged that payments were released without verifying land ownership details on the E-Uparjan Portal, violating procurement rules.
Inquiry Committee Found Serious Irregularities, Claims Marandi
Marandi stated that after complaints from affected farmers, the Deputy Commissioner of Gumla constituted an inquiry committee headed by the Additional Collector. The committee’s investigation reportedly confirmed widespread manipulation in paddy procurement, particularly in LAMPS of the Palkot block.
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He further alleged that the inquiry report recommended suspension and strict action against the guilty officers and employees. However, no action has been taken so far, and the accused computer operator continues in service, which Marandi termed “extremely serious.”
Inflated Land Records, Rs 600–700 Per Quintal Embezzlement Alleged
In his letter, the BJP leader claimed that paddy was procured by artificially inflating the land holdings of beneficiary farmers, leading to an estimated embezzlement of Rs 600–700 per quintal. He said the inquiry report contains detailed data comparing registered land area and quantity of paddy procured, clearly exposing the irregularities. Copies of the report were enclosed with the letter.
Farmers Forced to Sell Paddy at Lower Prices
Marandi alleged that while officials benefited from inflated procurement figures, farmers were denied timely government procurement, forcing them to sell paddy in the open market at Rs 1,600–1,700 per quintal, much below the expected support price.
Similar Scams Across Jharkhand, Marandi Alleges
The Leader of Opposition further claimed that farmers from various districts have informed him about similar paddy procurement scams across Jharkhand, involving District Supply Officers, Block Supply Officers, LAMPS/PACS secretaries, and computer operators. He suggested that such widespread corruption could not be possible without the involvement or protection of senior officials or political leadership.
Demand for FIRs and Transparent Procurement System
In his letter to Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Marandi demanded:
- Immediate FIRs based on the inquiry report
- Dismissal of guilty officers and employees
- State-wide monitoring by a competent authority
- Strict land verification at the block level
- Elimination of middlemen from paddy procurement
He emphasised that transparent paddy procurement is essential to protect farmers’ interests and prevent misuse of public funds.
