367 cases of spurious seed rackets filed in last 7 years: IG Stephen Ravindra

Addressing the media at the District Police Office here Nalgonda, Ravindra said the seized spurious seeds comprised 1,700 quintals of cotton seeds, 350 quintals of chilli seeds and 2,500 quintals of paddy seeds.

Nalgonda: Inspector General of Police (IG) of West Zone Stephen Ravindra on Friday said that spurious seeds of cotton, maize, paddy, chilli and vegetables worth RS 27.96  crores have been seized in 141 cases this year from the 13 districts under West Zone.

Addressing the media at the District Police Office here Nalgonda, Ravindra said the seized spurious seeds comprised 1,700 quintals of cotton seeds, 350 quintals of chilli seeds and 2,500 quintals of paddy seeds. In all, 29 cases were filed for selling seeds without valid certificates, 48 cases related to loose sales of seeds, 20 cases of selling seeds past expiry date, seven cases of duplicate seeds sale, 14 cases of illegal storage of seeds and 10 cases of selling seeds without having required documents and another 11 cases for violation of rules.

He said a total of 367 cases of spurious seeds marketing were registered in the last seven years. Some cases were in investigation stage. “We are taking special care to ensure that all the accused in spurious seeds cases get punishment in the court,” he said.

Inspector General of Hyderabad Range Shiva Shanker Reddy said that stringent action would be taken against persons involved in production and marketing of spurious seeds. The PD Act would be invoked against the accused in spurious seeds cases. Farmers should complain to the police if they have information about spurious seeds that will help the police expose the entire network, he said.

Nalgonda police busts inter-state spurious seeds; arrests 13 persons  

Nalgonda district police arrested 13 persons of an inter-State spurious seeds racket and seized 220 tons of spurious seeds totally worth Rs 6 crores from their possession.

The arrested were identified as Enabothula Srinivas(33), Managing Director of Nairuthi Seeds Private Limited and resident of Bowenpally in Hyderabad, Karnati Madusudan Reddy(50), resident of West Govondinne, Gorukunti Pavan Kumar(35), native of Nandhyala, Bandaru Sudhakar()38), resident of Gindlapaka,   Gosa Swamydas(40), resident of Peddakamballuru , Dubba   nkata Shiva Reddy(54), reside of Nandyal district, Angadi Huseein Vali, native of Nandyala of Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh state, Gade Peddi Reddy(52), resident of Naginiprole of Bhadadri-Kothagudem district, Modishetti Govindu(27), resident of Kompally of Medchal, Saleem Gopi(30), resident of  Chintha, Putta Akhil(22), resident of Macha Bollaram in Hyderabad. Kola Pitchaiah(52), resident of Devarakonda  and Polishetti Balaswamy(55), resident of Khammagudem of Chanur mandal in Nalgonda district. Another three accused in the case Enabothula Rajitha, Chennakeshava Reddy and Madhu were at large.

Presenting the arrested persons and seized spurious seeds at a media conference at the District Police Office, Inspector General of Police (IG) of West Zone Stephen Ravindra said that Task Force teams were formed with officials from police and agriculture departments to check sale of spurious seeds. The police is now focused on spurious seeds rackets in view of the Vaanakalam sowing seaon.

Superintendent of Police AV Ranganath said that on credible information, police conducted raids in different places in Nalgonda and Hyderabad and arrested 13 persons. About 220 tons of spurious seeds including 20 tons of cotton seeds and 200 tons of paddy and vegetable seeds, which were ready for dispatch to different places, were seized. The modus operandi of the gang was to procure rejected seeds from sources and colour them. Later, they are packed in attractive packets under the brand name of Nairuthi Seeds Private Limited.

Stating that Srinivas Reddy, a chartered accountant, was the kingpin of the spurious seeds racket, he said he also got permission for production of paddy and maize seeds under Nairuthi Seeds Private Limited Company located in Medchal, but started marketing spurious cotton, paddy and vegetable seeds for easy money.

He said the gang members sold the spurious seeds in rain-fed areas and red soil areas in erstwhile Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar, Khammam, Warangal and Ranga Reddy districts. When faced with low crop yield, farmers in these areas would invariably attribute it to soil nature and lack of rains, but never suspected the quality of seeds. In other areas, farmers would immediately suspect the quality of seeds if crop yield was low, he said, adding that crop production in 40,000 acre would have been impacted causing losses to thousands of farmers if the 220 tons of spurious seeds had been sold to them. He said that PD Act would be invoked against all the accused in the case.