Patiala: The Janhit Adhikar Welfare Association (JAWA) – a non-governmental organisation – has petitioned Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann to order a high-level investigation into an alleged multi-crore seed scam linked to Verka Milk Plants, claiming officials ran a “paper-only” supply chain to “siphon” off govt subsidies and launder money through farmers’ bank accounts.In a complaint filed on Friday, the NGO stated that the Verka Milk Plant floated tenders in 2025 for maize and millet fodder seeds with three firms – two based in Telangana and one in Mansa, Punjab.The association alleged that on Feb 12 and 13, 2025, Verka processed bills from the Mansa firm without receiving any physical seeds. It claimed the transport company named on the delivery bills had been defunct for three years.The NGO further claimed that the seeds were shown as received in Hoshiarpur and immediately transferred on paper to the Dasuya store. It was also alleged that the procurement manager and the area in charge pressured a local accountant at the Dasuya store to generate fake bills for various village cooperative societies.The Janhit Adhikar Welfare Association alleged the scam extended to village societies, where no seed was delivered, and officials distributed cash to societies to pass on to farmers.“Farmers were told their milk payments were low this month and were given cash to make up the difference,” stated the NGO. “In reality, the societies deducted the seed costs from the farmers’ digital accounts to create a paper trail showing the seeds were sold. By whitening the money through these deductions, Verka Hoshiarpur was able to add a 30% govt subsidy to the total and transfer the full amount to the Mansa-based firm,” said Arun Singla, general secretary of the JAWA.The NGO said the issue surfaced when the Dasuya store manager-cum-in charge found discrepancies after returning from leave. It is alleged that despite repeated complaints to senior officials, the manager and the accountant were told to remain silent.It said the procurement manager at Verka was chargesheeted, and the area in charge was suspended after persistent protests, but claimed the “real masterminds” remained untouched. “An internal committee report dated May 20, 2025, reportedly confirmed the scam runs into crores of rupees,” said Singla.Manjit Singh, president of the Janhit Adhikar Welfare Association (JAWA), said the scam could be wider, citing over 5,000 milk societies across Punjab. He claimed a state-wide audit could reveal a scandal worth hundreds of crores.Copies of the complaint were forwarded to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the managing director of Milkfed for further action.Verka general manager, Hoshiarpur, Rajesh Balsotra, said, “Separate inquiries have been conducted by Verka, including that by the head office, and negligence was found on the part of some officials, following which action was taken against the erring officers. One officer was also chargesheeted, while another was suspended. No police complaint has been made against the erring officers yet.”Punjab Kisan Union leader Charanjit Singh Bhinder said, “The dairy farmers associated with Verka were supposed to receive subsidised seeds of maize as part of profit sharing. However, neither subsidies nor seeds reached the farmers. Verka officials availed the seed subsidy on paper. We held a protest for many days, demanding a probe and action against the erring officials.”“Dairy farmers should be given their due right of subsidy on seeds, which couldn’t reach them due to this scam. A thorough probe should be conducted into the matter,” Bhinder added.MSID:: 130351203 413 |
