The Telangana High Court dismissed petitions filed by several rice millers seeking to quash First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against them for alleged irregularities in the procurement of paddy during the 2022-23 Kharif season. The cases relate to discrepancies found during inspections conducted by the Civil Supplies Department.
Millers were accused of diverting paddy meant for the government to private buyers, submitting false reports regarding stock, and engaging in other fraudulent practices to claim undue benefits under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme. Investigations revealed alleged manipulation of records related to paddy procurement, including inflated stock declarations and discrepancies in milling yields.
The court specifically addressed petitions from millers in various districts including Kamareddy, Rajanna Sircilla, and others. While some millers argued the FIRs were based on flawed investigations and lacked sufficient evidence, the High Court found merit in the prosecution’s case, noting preliminary evidence suggesting irregularities.
The court observed that the investigations were still ongoing and that quashing the FIRs at this stage would impede the process of determining the truth. It emphasized that the millers were given opportunities to present their case during the investigation and that the authorities had found sufficient grounds to proceed with legal action.
The court rejected arguments that the actions constituted harassment, stating that the alleged offenses were serious economic crimes impacting the public exchequer. It directed the investigating officers to continue their investigation in accordance with the law and complete it expeditiously.
The dismissal of these petitions signifies the court’s stance on upholding the integrity of the MSP scheme and preventing fraudulent practices in the procurement process. It reinforces the government’s efforts to ensure fair practices and protect the interests of farmers. The millers now have to face the legal proceedings based on the filed FIRs.
