‘Proxy’ buying: Mandi secys told to check CCTV footage

In a major step to curb rampant ‘proxy procurement’ of paddy allegedly using fake gate passes, the district administration has directed the District Marketing Enforcement Officer (DMEO) to ask secretaries of market committees to secure recordings of CCTV cameras installed at all entry and exit gates for the entire 2024-25 kharif season, beginning from September 27.

Hard disks to be preserved

To ensure that no recording is overlooked, the District Marketing Enforcement Officer has mandated that the market secretaries preserve the hard disk recordings until further notice.

The DMEO has further directed the secretaries to comply with the directions of the administration as well as senior officials of the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB). As per officials, this step has been initiated to verify the passes with the number of vehicles in the footage.

Sources said there were reports of suspicious activities in the grain markets allegedly for proxy procurement by the authorities of HSAMB, procurement agencies along with arhtiyas and rice millers. This step is seen as an attempt to maintain transparency in paddy procurement and prevent unlawful practices.

To ensure that no recording is overlooked, the DMEO has mandated that the market secretaries preserve the hard disk recordings until further notice. If the hard disk reaches capacity, new storage is to be installed immediately to avoid any interruptions in data collection, said the order of the DMEO, a copy of which is with The Tribune.

“The footage will be scrutinised carefully, with all entry and exit gate passes being cross-checked against recorded vehicle movements,” the order said. “I have asked the secretaries to preserve the recordings and hard disks until further orders,” said Saurabh Choudhary, DMEO, Karnal.

Sources within the administration revealed discrepancies across grain markets in the district. Allegations of fake gate passes were among them, pointing to collusion to push unsold paddy into procurement channels illegally. Tonnes of unsold paddy are accumulating in various markets, raising suspicions of fraudulent activity.

Shockingly, the passes have been issued even on dates when procurement was officially suspended—evidence that fake passes may have facilitated unauthorised access for proxy procurement.

The sources said entries of passes of several tonnes had been cancelled in different grain markets on the suspicion that fake entries were made and later deleted. “Action will be taken if any discrepancy is found,” said DC Uttam Singh.