Ghost procurement of paddy: 4 arrested officials sent to police remand in ‘paddy procurement scam’

By Parveen Arora

The police on Wednesday produced four arrested officials in different local courts, which sent them to different periods of police remand in connection with an alleged paddy procurement scam in the 2025-26 season, involving fake gate passes and illegal commissions.

The court granted the three-day police remand of Krishan Dhankar, Secretary of the Assandh Market Committee. A two-day remand was granted for Asha Rani, former Secretary of Karnal Market Committee, and Deepak Suhag, Secretary of Market Committee Jundla. Anil Kumar, former District Food and Supplies Controller (DFSC) Karnal, was sent to one-day police remand.

The arrests were made on Tuesday by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to probe the scam. Anil Kumar had earlier been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau in connection with a case registered at Gurugram. He was later brought to Karnal on a production warrant by the SIT.

Asha Rani, who was already a main accused in an FIR registered at the City Police Station for alleged irregularities in paddy procurement there, and had been suspended in that case, was out on bail. However, she has now been arrested in connection with another FIR registered at the Sadar Police Station, Karnal, on October 30, allegedly for issuing fake gate passes.

Deepak Suhag was also arrested in connection with the same FIR registered at Sadar Police Station, while Krishan Dhankar was taken into custody in a separate case registered at Assandh Police Station on November 11 last year.

According to the police, the accused allegedly issued fake gate passes to help certain millers show procurement of paddy that never actually arrived in the grain markets. Anil Kumar has been accused of taking commission in a case registered at Taraori grain market.

The SIT, functioning under the supervision of Assistant Superintendent of Police Kaanchi Singhal, has investigated five out of the six FIRs registered in the district so far.

The police said their remand was required to recover the money involved in the scam and to ascertain the role of other persons who may be linked to the case.

Superintendent of Police Narender Bijarniya said those involved would not be spared. He said Karnal police was committed to exposing the entire network behind the manipulation.

This article has been republished from The Tribune.