The Gujarat government has invoked the Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities (PBM) Act, 1980, against four accused found selling counterfeit and substandard fertilisers in Amreli district, with Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani warning on Monday, 6 July that repeat offenders in fake fertiliser and seed trade will face imprisonment alongside licence cancellation. All four have been detained and sent to jail following a state investigation.

The Fraud at the Centre of the Case

The crackdown traces back to an inspection of Shree Fertiliser in Khambhala village, Babra taluka, Amreli district, where officials recovered 299 bags of low-quality DAP fertiliser packed in counterfeit bags bearing the branding of IFFCO — one of India's most trusted fertiliser cooperatives. Three samples sent to the Junagadh laboratory for testing failed quality standards across the board. Investigators found no purchase invoice, no source certificate, and no corresponding stock register entry for the recovered material.

Who the Four Accused Are

Mahesh Japadiya, 33, of Jasdan, Rajkot district, was allegedly linked to the recovered stock and had reportedly purchased the fertiliser from a second accused. Jignesh Dabhi, 26, of Rampara village, Botad district, is alleged to have sold extremely low-quality fertiliser in counterfeit IFFCO-branded bags, passing it off as genuine subsidised DAP to farmers.

Vijay Malviya, 30, of Surat, is accused of conspiring with others to sell substandard fake DAP in counterfeit packaging carrying the branding of reputed companies, including IFFCO, while presenting it as genuine subsidised fertiliser. Bharat Dhanani, 39, of Amreli district, allegedly printed the counterfeit plastic bags — including those bearing the branding of IFFCO and the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana (Bharat DAP). A search of his warehouse at Mota Ankadiya village led to the seizure of large quantities of substandard fertilisers, empty bags, packing machinery, and other materials worth several lakh rupees, according to officials.

What the Government Said

'We had already made it clear that the government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will not tolerate anyone cheating farmers. Those selling illegal, prohibited or substandard agricultural inputs will not only face cancellation of their licences, but repeat offenders will also be prosecuted under the PBM Act and sent to jail,' Vaghani said.

The minister described the action as only the beginning of a wider crackdown, adding that investigations would be launched in other districts wherever similar complaints are received. He also warned that no dealer found involved in black marketing or counterfeit agricultural products would receive any leniency.

Scale of the Wider Crackdown

Vaghani disclosed that during the current year, the licences of 98 dealers had already been suspended or cancelled for irregularities — comprising 68 fertiliser dealers, 17 seed dealers, and 13 pesticide dealers. This comes amid growing concerns across Indian states about the infiltration of spurious agricultural inputs into rural supply chains, which directly erodes farm productivity and household incomes. Notably, the use of the PBM Act — typically reserved for essential commodities hoarding — signals a deliberate escalation in legal severity beyond routine licence action.

What Happens Next

Vaghani assured farmers that the state government remains committed to protecting their interests and that the campaign against those causing financial losses through counterfeit agricultural inputs will continue. The government has indicated that all districts are now under scrutiny, and further cases under the PBM Act are expected if investigations uncover repeat offenders elsewhere.