A significant case of corruption has resurfaced in the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) in Sirsa district. Three employees of the Shahpur Begu PACS have been suspended for allegedly misappropriating fertilisers and seeds worth ₹56 lakh.
The Accused & The Scam
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Suspended Officials: The accused include the PACS manager Ravi Kumar and two salesmen, Ranjit Singh and Hari Singh.
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The Allegation: An audit revealed that the trio sold government-supplied stock—including fertilisers, wheat, and cotton seeds—meant for farmers but pocketed the proceeds instead of depositing them into the PACS accounts.
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Impact: The Shahpur Begu PACS serves nearly 20 villages. The misappropriation reportedly caused a three-month delay in the distribution of fertiliser to local farmers.
Official Action
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Discovery: The irregularities were detected during a routine audit by the development officer three months ago.
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Response: Rishipal, General Manager of the Central Cooperative Bank, Sirsa, confirmed that recovery notices sent to the accused went unheeded. Consequently, they have been suspended, and the Assistant Registrar has been directed to file an FIR against them.
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Wider Crackdown: GM Rishipal noted that investigations across the district have already led to the suspension of over 12 employees in similar cases.
Broader Context Sources indicate that fraud is rampant across the district, with unresolved cases in PACS at Chautala, Alikan, Dabwali, and Damdama. The total estimated loss from these various scams is nearing ₹6 crore, raising serious concerns about accountability within the cooperative sector.
