Fake Farmers Steal Rs.3.3 Cr Government Funds

-Warangal: “Imaginary farmers” siphoned off government funds meant for real farmers in Hanamkonda and Mancherial districts. These fake farmers were shown to have cultivated 278 acres of land in Shayampet mandal and 740 acres in Jaipur mandal respectively and supplied paddy to rice mills. Around ₹3.3 crore was misappropriated at both locations with the help of agriculture department officials.

In Shayampet, an investigation task force of the Telangana State Civil Supplies Authority found that during the Rabi 2024-25 season, leader Bejjanki Srinivas, owner of Sambasiva Mini Modern Rice Mill in Kamalapur, in connivance with family members, negotiators and agriculture department officials, fraudulently created 12 fictitious farmer profiles using the official Online Paddyy Supply Management System (OPMS).

“These fake farmers were shown to have cultivated 278 acres of land and supplied 8,049.6 quintals of paddy to the factory. In reality, no paddy was supplied or transported. Through these manipulations, ₹1.86 crore was deposited in the accounts of the fake beneficiaries, most of whom were close relatives of the factory owner. They also demanded ₹ 500 per quintal (sanna biyyam) as bonus.” Task force officials told Deccan Chronicle.

An investigation in Mancherial revealed similar irregularities at the District Cooperative Marketing Association’s Paddy Procurement Center in Narsingapur village during the same Rabi season. The accused Tatipally Srinivas, owner of Sumukh Agro Industries Ramaraopet, allegedly followed the same method and created seven fictitious farmer profiles using the OPMS portal.

“The accused claimed that 740 acres of land was cultivated and supplied 6,322 quintals of paddy to the mill through the DCMS center in Narsingapur. Through these manipulations, loans of Rs 1.39 crore were given to fake beneficiaries, most of whom were relatives of the mill owner,” officials said. “Further investigations and criminal prosecutions are being carried out by the police under the supervision of district civil supply authorities. These cases reveal a well-organized corruption network within the paddy procurement system, involving mill owners, middlemen, agriculture department personnel and PPC officers.”