Karnal police have started an investigation into an alleged case of wheat procurement from Uttar Pradesh in Karnal’s grain markets in the names of local farmers. Records and CCTV footage from the grain markets of Karnal, Kunjpura, and Indri, as well as the Biana sub-yard, have been sought for a detailed inquiry.
The police have registered three FIRs against seven arhtiyas—two FIRs against six arhtiyas for procuring wheat from UP in the names of Karnal’s farmers, while one FIR was filed against an arhtiya for allegedly mixing bricks in wheat bags meant for government delivery.
The police are examining how such irregularities occurred despite strict procurement norms introduced this season, which include mandatory farmer registration on the Meri Fasal Mera Byora (MFMB) portal, photographs of farmers with tractor-trolleys bearing registration numbers for gate passes, Aadhaar-based biometric verification, and geo-fencing of mandis and godowns for real-time monitoring of wheat transportation.
“We have started an investigation, and the entire record as well as CCTV footage will be verified to determine the involvement of all in the procurement of UP wheat in Karnal’s grain markets in the names of local farmers,” said Narender Bijarniya, Superintendent of Police (SP).
Following reports of wheat arriving from UP and being procured locally, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Anand Kumar Sharma set up two nakas at the Haryana–UP border, with round-the-clock monitoring by duty magistrates and police. A team led by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Rahul Raiya was also constituted to probe the matter. The ADC’s inquiry resulted in the suspension of 13 arhtiya licences—four in Karnal grain market, six in Indri, and three in Biana sub-yard. Several tractor-trolleys were sent back after verification by patwaris at Gharaunda grain market.
The ADC’s detailed report indicated a well-planned misuse of the government’s e-Kharid portal, with wheat allegedly brought from UP and adjoining states being fraudulently entered in Karnal farmers’ names. Team members found that arhtiyas manipulated the gap between the maximum permissible yield on the MFMB portal and the actual yield of a farmer.
In a grain market in Karnal, CCTV verification revealed a tractor bearing a UP registration number carrying wheat cultivated on leased land in UP, which was sold in the name of a local farmer. This amounted to cheating, criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, fraud, and falsification of records, said an official.
Similar irregularities were found in Indri, where arhtiyas were also engaged in monetary transactions with transport drivers for preferential lifting of wheat bags, violating mandi norms. In the Biana sub-yard, wheat from UP was again illegally entered on the e-Kharid portal under local farmers’ names.
“We have registered FIRs, and the police are now investigating these cases. Action will be taken against those involved in negligence,” said DC Dr. Sharma.
