A major wheat procurement scam involving misappropriation of 5,168.70 quintals of wheat worth Rs 1.35 crore has surfaced at Hatauli Gram Sangathan procurement centre in Majholi tehsil. Acting on the directions of the Collector and Chairman of District Procurement Committee, officials have sought registration of a criminal case against ten individuals, including procurement centre functionaries, operators and associated personnel. According to the complaint submitted by Junior Food Supply Officer, Sihora, procurement work at Centre No. 1, Maa Annapurna Warehouse, Pipariya Tagar was allotted to Bhumi Gram Sangathan Hatauli through an order issued on April 21, 2026. During the procurement season between April 21 and May 27, wheat worth Rs 1,35,67,837 was embezzled through fraudulent practices. A joint inquiry team comprising Tehsildar Dilip Hanwat, District Project Manager Anjula Jha, District Supply Officer Seema Boursiya and other officials conducted a physical verification of stock on May 27. The investigation revealed that against a total procurement of 48,347.07 quintals, only 43,179 quintals could be physically accounted for, resulting in a shortage of 5,168.70 quintals. The inquiry also detected serious irregularities in gunny bag records. While the Madhya Pradesh State Civil Supplies Corporation supplied 92,250 gunny bags to the centre, procurement records reflected the use of 96,694 bags.

 

Investigators charged that 4,444 bags were fraudulently shown in records to facilitate fake procurement entries on the e-procurement portal. The accused include procurement centre in-charge and Sangathan president Reena Lodhi, computer operator Mayuri Lodhi, Shubham Barman, Aman Pandey, Akash Pandey, Anil Patel, Anand Bharsakale, Pramod Kumar Mishra, Prakash Pandey and Rinku Sahu. The report charged that Aman Pandey and Akash Pandey were entrusted with procurement operations despite lacking authorisation under procurement policy. Farmers reportedly paid illegal charges for filling, weighing and stitching gunny bags, while surveyor Anil Patel collected money from farmers for FAQ certification of wheat. Investigators further suspect that wheat purchases were falsely entered against farmers who never brought produce to the centre. Officials have also noted lapses by nodal officers and supervisory staff in monitoring procurement activities. The district administration has recommended criminal proceedings, and further analysis of procurement data is underway to identify additional irregularities and beneficiaries of the alleged fraud.