Major Bribery Scandal Uncovered in Rajasthan's Seed Sector
Rajasthan ACB Exposes Alleged Bribery Network
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Rajasthan has announced the discovery of a significant bribery scheme involving a private seed company and officials from the Rajasthan State Seed Corporation. The investigation revealed that millions of rupees were exchanged to cover up actions related to counterfeit and substandard peanut seeds, sparking a major political controversy in the state.
Political Fallout and Allegations
Govind Singh Dotasra, the state Congress president, accused Agriculture Minister Kirori Meena of running an extortion racket under the guise of the ongoing raids. The case involves allegations against a seed company accused of dealing in low-quality or fake peanut seeds, with claims that money was solicited to resolve the legal actions taken against them.
Details of the Investigation
An ACB official stated that a raid was conducted at the warehouse of a company owned by Kiran Kapadia, where samples of the seeds were collected for testing. The sale of the 'Gajaraj' brand peanut seeds was halted, and the premises were sealed. The bureau received complaints indicating that approximately ₹1.80 crore was offered as a bribe to settle the matter.
Bribery Amounts and Arrests
It is alleged that this amount was intended to influence official actions, suppress the case, return the stock of seeds to Gujarat, and secure favorable outcomes for the company, including the approval of seed samples and resumption of sales. According to the ACB, Jugal Kishore Bishnoi, a director at the Rajasthan State Seed Corporation, reportedly received around ₹1.20 crore, while ₹60 lakh was given to Ganpat Bishnoi.
Seizures and Ongoing Investigations
Based on intelligence, ACB teams intercepted a bus near Lunkaransar and seized ₹85 lakh from the possession of Jugal Kishore Bishnoi's nephew, who was arrested on the spot. During a search of Jugal Kishore Bishnoi's residence, ₹1.59 crore in cash was recovered, bringing the total cash seized in this case to ₹2.44 crore. Jugal Kishore Bishnoi, Kiran Kapadia, Ganpat Bishnoi, Sunil Sethia, and Satpal have been taken into custody for questioning.
Political Implications and Demands for Investigation
The ACB's investigation revealed that approximately ₹90 lakh of the alleged bribe was being sent to Sri Ganganagar through independent Bishnoi. This situation has ignited political disputes, with Dotasra alleging that an extortion network was operating under the pretext of raids conducted by Agriculture Minister Kirori Meena. He claimed that millions of rupees were extorted from traders and businesses during these operations.
Call for Accountability
Dotasra has demanded a thorough and impartial investigation into the matter, asserting that if officials had the audacity to accept such large bribes, it should be determined who ultimately benefited from this money and whether higher authorities were aware of these alleged activities. He urged Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma to conduct a comprehensive inquiry and identify all individuals involved in the alleged corruption. No immediate response was received from Agriculture Minister Kirori Meena regarding these allegations.