Khammam: Enkoor police in the district have seized unlicensed chilli seeds worth Rs 1.43 crore and arrested four persons in connection with the case.
Commissioner of Police, Vishnu S Warrier speaking to media persons here on Saturday informed that a farmer, M V Krishna Rao of Enkoor had bought ‘Star Bindhu F-1’ hybrid chilli seeds worth Rs 68, 000 on June 8. He then consulted the local Agriculture Officer (AO) A Narasimha Rao to verify the quality of the seeds.
The AO confirmed the hybrid chilli seeds manufactured by Dwaraka Seeds Company were not licensed. Following that, Bairu Venugopal Rao, the owner of Sai Lakshmi Agency, located at Sujatha Nagar in Kothagudem district was arrested. Venugopal Rao and the seeds company salesman, Mangaiah were booked under Section 7 of Essential Commodities Act and Section 3 (1) of Seeds (Control) Order, 1983. Venugopal Rao confessed to the police that Mangaiah approached him stating that seeds manufactured by Dwaraka Seeds Company were of good quality and asked him to sell them to farmers.
The trader further told the police that trusting Mangaiah’s words he consulted the company managing director V Laxma Reddy and regional manager M Siva Reddy of Hyderabad for procuring the seeds, Warrier said.
The police have seized huge quantities of ‘Star Bindhu F-1’ chilli seeds packets from Sai Lakshmi Agency and from shops selling the seeds at Mahabubabad town. Police also identified that Parameshwari Agro Agency in Warangal was also selling the same seeds.
Seeds traders, Ajmeera Suresh, Cherukumalli Sridhar and Tumu Pichaiah of Mahabubabad were arrested by the police while Magaiah, Laxma Reddy, Siva Reddy and Deva Sathish of Parameshwari Agro Agency were absconding, the CP informed. He further informed that so far the district police have seized spurious and unlicensed seeds worth Rs 2 crore and seized around 14, 805 packets of chilli seeds . In all 44 persons were booked for selling spurious and unlicensed seeds.
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