Fake cotton seeds suspected to be sown in 14,000 acres across Vidarbha
It has also recently come to light when about 16 tons of spurious cotton seeds were seized, enough to sow 16,000 acres if the crime had not been detected.
Nagpur: A disaster is about to unfold in the agriculture sector because cotton farmers in Vidarbha have sown spurious or substandard seeds on nearly 14,000 acres across the region, which is already highly affected by unseasonal rains and hailstorms.
It has also recently come to light when about 16 tons of spurious cotton seeds were seized, enough to sow 16,000 acres if the crime had not been detected at all.
The agriculture department has also formed flying squads across Maharashtra to seize spurious seed packets from shops. It has also been learned that around 28,000 bags of spurious seeds were sold by the racketeers last year. He started working 45 days ago this year and sold 14 tonnes of seeds before being busted.
The Wardha police busted the same racket by raiding behind Agragami School on Nagsen Road in Mhasala village on 12th June. Which used to buy low-quality cotton seeds from ginning mills in Idar near Ahmedabad in Gujarat. They were dyed to look like the original and then packed in fake packets bearing local labels of well-known brands.
Apart from the employees of Sevagram police station, the team of Wardha’s Local Crime Branch (LCB) and the employees of the Agriculture Department also participated in the raid. And SP Noorul Hasan and the district administration are sending the raid report and its report to the government.
Earned around Rs 3.50 lakh by selling spurious seeds
The racketeers have also sold spurious branded seeds at throwaway prices to lure farmers from Vidarbha, other parts of Maharashtra, and some southern states. So far ten racketeers have been arrested.
SP Noorul Hasan said that 16 tonnes of fake branded seeds were seized from the packing and labeling unit of mastermind Raju Jaiswal. “Some 14 tonnes of seeds had already been sold, and farmers may suffer losses,” Hassan said. The police also seized ₹27 lahks in cash and over ₹50,000 worth of liquor from Raju Jaiswal’s residence.
Sources have also said that Raju Jaiswal’s call details show that he was also in touch with some genuine cotton seed companies.
The Wardha police also said that poor-quality seeds had been procured and supplied by two people from Gujarat, Rajubhai and Mahendrabhai, to several unscrupulous distributors across the country. A case has been registered against both of them at Sevagram police station.
The Wardha police have also named the accused from Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh and Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh. The police have also caught Gaju Thakre, who earned around Rs 3.50 lakh by selling spurious seeds.
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