Sena minister’s name figures in tur dal scam

PUNE: Last month, when authorities discovered 990 bags of tur dal worth ₹50 lakh lying unclaimed in Jalna, the industrial town in Marathwada, the government hinted it may belong to traders.

A month later, as many as 75 complaints were reported indicating how traders bought tur from farmers at cheaper rates and sold it at the National Agriculture Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED) on higher rates. NAFED set the Minimum Support Price for tur this year at ₹5,050 per quintal while traders bought the pulses from farmers, who were panicked by reports of bumper crop this year, between ₹3,500 and ₹3,700 per quintal.

Shiv Sena leader and minister for state for dairy development Arjun Khotkar is accused of selling 377 quintals of tur at NAFED centre in Jalna. Khotkar sold 187 quintal on February 14 while additional 190 quintal in the name of his brother and sister-in-law was sold in February.

Taking cognizance of the tur sold in single family’s name, the district administration has started the probe. Khotkar while refuting the allegations said on Tuesday his family owns 400 acres and the tur sold at was produced in his farm.

Another complaint is from Shegaon in Buldhana district where two directors of NAFED sold 250 quintals and 424 quintals even when they had 10 acres each on their or family’s name.

After the bags were confiscated from Jalna, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said probe will be conducted in tur scam. However, the investigation has still not begun even as activists allege massive corruption. “

The traders and government officials have been misusing the system for their benefit. As a result, farmers are suffering,” said Rajan Kshirsagar, farm activist from Parbhani.

Traders and govt officials have been misusing the system for their benefit. As a result, farmers are suffering RAJAN KSHIRSAGAR, farm activist