In a bold move to safeguard the paddy procurement process, Chhattisgarh’s Baloda Bazar district administration has lodged an FIR against the in-charge manager of a procurement center for orchestrating a brazen fraud. The incident, uncovered at the Kharthora village center, exposes deep flaws in the system meant to support farmers during the peak procurement season.
Durgesh Kumar Gendre, the manager in question, allegedly manipulated records on January 21, 2026, to show 53 bags totaling 21.20 quintals of sarna paddy without any actual delivery. Using a token issued in his brother Surendra Kumar Gendre’s name, he fabricated weighing slips, entered fake data into the online system, and even processed a sham payment of Rs 50,222.50. This meticulously planned deceit aimed to siphon off government funds, undermining the trust in the procurement mechanism.
District officials, vigilant amid ongoing monitoring, launched an immediate probe upon detecting the irregularity. Preliminary findings confirmed the violations of procurement guidelines, which mandate physical verification and actual paddy arrival before any online entries or payments. The FIR, numbered 96, was filed at Palari police station, signaling zero tolerance for such malpractices.
This scandal erupts at a critical juncture when thousands of farmers rely on these centers for fair prices. Beyond financial loss to the state, it jeopardizes honest producers who queue up with their hard-earned harvest. Authorities vow deeper investigations, promising further action if additional evidence surfaces. The case underscores the urgent need for robust oversight to protect the agrarian economy from internal sabotage.