Chhattisgarh paddy scam: Centre in-charge held for embezzling 9,355 sacks worth ₹1.16 crore
Synopsis
A paddy procurement centre in-charge in Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh, confessed to systematically pilfering 9,355 sacks of farmers' grain over time — a ₹1.16 crore scam that only surfaced when a physical stock check exposed the gap. Investigators are now probing whether others were involved, raising questions about oversight at the state's cooperative grain network.
Key Takeaways
Gangadhar Jagat , in-charge of the Bamhani Paddy Procurement Centre in Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh , was arrested on 28 May 2025 .
He allegedly embezzled 3,742 quintals (9,355 sacks) of coarse paddy belonging to farmers, worth ₹1.16 crore .
The fraud was discovered during a physical stock verification by an administrative inquiry team.
A case was registered under Section 316(5) of the BNS at Basna Police Station; the accused confessed and was remanded to judicial custody .
Investigators are probing the possible involvement of other individuals in the scam.
The district police in Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh arrested the in-charge of a paddy procurement centre on Thursday, 28 May for allegedly embezzling 3,742 quintals (9,355 sacks) of paddy belonging to farmers — a scam valued at ₹1.16 crore. The accused, Gangadhar Jagat, confessed to the crime during interrogation and has been remanded to judicial custody.
How the Scam Came to Light
The fraud surfaced after a physical verification by an administrative inquiry team at the Bamhani Paddy Procurement Centre revealed a sharp mismatch between documented stock and the grain actually present. A formal complaint was filed on 27 May at Basna Police Station by Usat Kumar Pradhan, Branch Manager of District Cooperative Central Bank Ltd., Pirda, triggering the police action.
According to investigators, Jagat allegedly pilfered the paddy sacks over an extended period, systematically widening the gap between procured and actual inventory. The shortage of 3,742 quintals of coarse paddy, equivalent to 9,355 sacks, points to a sustained, calculated operation rather than a one-time irregularity.
Arrest and Legal Action
A case was registered under Section 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Basna Police Station. Following interrogation — during which Jagat reportedly confessed — investigators found sufficient evidence to formally arrest him. He was produced before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody.
The Mahasamund district police stated that the action was taken in line with directives from senior officials to crack down on economic crimes, corruption, and embezzlement of government property. Authorities added that prompt legal action is being pursued based on continuous complaints and intelligence inputs.
Wider Fallout and Ongoing Probe
The revelation has sent shockwaves through cooperative societies, administrative circles, and political corridors in Chhattisgarh. Paddy procurement centres are a critical link in the state's agricultural supply chain, and any breach of trust at this level directly harms the farmers whose grain is held in custody.
Investigators are currently examining the roles of other individuals who may have facilitated or been aware of the embezzlement. This comes amid broader scrutiny of procurement irregularities in Chhattisgarh's cooperative banking and grain-management ecosystem. The outcome of the wider probe is expected to determine whether the accused acted alone or as part of a larger network.
Point of View
But the Mahasamund case cuts to the heart of agricultural trust — the paddy belonged to farmers who handed it over in good faith. That a single in-charge could systematically drain nearly 3,742 quintals without triggering routine checks points to a systemic oversight failure, not just individual misconduct. Chhattisgarh's cooperative procurement network handles thousands of such centres; if monitoring gaps exist at Bamhani, they likely exist elsewhere. The real accountability question is not just whether Jagat acted alone, but why stock discrepancies of this scale went undetected for so long.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Chhattisgarh paddy procurement scam?
It is a fraud case in which Gangadhar Jagat , the in-charge of the Bamhani Paddy Procurement Centre in Mahasamund district, allegedly embezzled 3,742 quintals (9,355 sacks) of paddy belonging to farmers, valued at ₹1.16 crore. The scam came to light after a physical stock verification revealed a sharp mismatch between documented and actual grain inventory.
Who filed the complaint and when?
The complaint was filed on 27 May 2025 at Basna Police Station by Usat Kumar Pradhan, Branch Manager of District Cooperative Central Bank Ltd., Pirda, after an administrative inquiry team detected the stock shortage.
What charges have been filed against the accused?
A case has been registered against Gangadhar Jagat under Section 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Basna Police Station. He confessed during interrogation, was formally arrested, and has been remanded to judicial custody by a court.
Are other people being investigated in connection with the scam?
Yes. Investigators have stated that the roles and involvement of other individuals are currently under examination. It is not yet confirmed whether the accused acted alone or as part of a wider network.
Why does this case matter for farmers in Chhattisgarh?
Paddy procurement centres are the primary channel through which farmers hand over their grain to the state's cooperative system. Embezzlement at this level directly deprives farmers of the value of their produce and undermines confidence in the procurement infrastructure that millions of cultivators depend on.
