Kaithal, Oct 7: A major fraudulent scheme targeting farmers during paddy procurement was uncovered at the Bhagal grain market in Kaithal district, following protests by local agriculturalists over manipulated crop readings. Investigations revealed that a local rice mill owner was using a tampered moisture meter to artificially inflate moisture readings to 22–23 percent on produce that actually measured 17 percent. The manipulation forced farmers to sell their PR paddy varieties at Rs 200 to Rs 300 below the official Minimum Support Price (MSP), leading to losses between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000 per tractor-trolley.
Following demonstrations and slogan-shouting by affected farmers, Guhla Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Munish Kumar Yadav arrived at the market yard to inspect the equipment. The official examination confirmed that the Market Committee’s security seal on the moisture meter had been broken to alter the device. Continuing the crackdown, the SDM raided a rice mill in nearby Arnoli village, discovering 652 quintals of unrecorded PR paddy unloaded during night hours without valid J-forms or gate passes. The administration impounded the altered machinery, dispatched it to the Weight and Measurement Department for technical analysis, and slapped a fine of Rs 80,300 on the mill owner while submitting a comprehensive report to the Kaithal Deputy Commissioner.
