Archive · 4 Nov 2025
Fake Farmers Embezzle Rs. 3.3 Crore in Telangana Paddy Procurement Scheme
Imagine a system where the government gives money to farmers who grow rice.
In some parts of Telangana, people created fake farmer identities using a special computer system.
These fake farmers were pretend-growing lots of rice on land they didn't actually farm.
They then claimed to sell this pretend rice to special mills.
The mill owners, with help from some government workers, took this pretend rice money.
They also claimed extra money called a bonus.
In total, about 3.3 crore rupees that was meant for real farmers was stolen.
Investigators found this scam by looking into how the rice money was being handled.
Now, police are investigating to catch those involved.
Fake farmers were used to embezzle ₹3.3 crore in government funds meant for genuine cultivators in Telangana.
The scam occurred in Hanamkonda and Mancherial districts during the Rabi 2024-25 season.
Mill owners, in collusion with agriculture department officials and mediators, created fictitious farmer profiles in the OPMS.
Fictitious claims were made for paddy cultivation and supply, leading to funds being credited to relatives of the accused.
Investigations by the Telangana State Civil Supplies Corporation revealed a network of corruption within the paddy procurement system.
- Who
- Mill owners (Bejjanki Srinivas and Tatipally Srinivas), their family members, mediators, and agriculture department officials.
- What
- Misappropriation of government funds intended for genuine farmers through a fake paddy procurement scheme.
- When
- Rabi 2024-25 season.
- Where
- Hanamkonda and Mancherial districts in Telangana.
- Why
- To illegally credit government funds, including bonuses, to accounts of fake beneficiaries, primarily relatives of the mill owners.
Accused Parties
Investigators/Authorities
Involvement in Fraudulent Scheme
Accused Parties
The accused, including mill owners, their relatives, mediators, and agriculture department officials, actively participated in creating fake farmer profiles and claiming government funds.
Investigators/Authorities
Investigators from the Telangana State Civil Supplies Corporation uncovered the scam through a systematic inquiry, exposing the modus operandi of the accused.
Nature of Transactions
Accused Parties
Fictitious paddy was claimed to be cultivated and supplied to mills, with government funds and bonuses credited to accounts of fake beneficiaries.
Investigators/Authorities
The investigation confirmed that no actual paddy was procured or transported, and the credited amounts were diverted to fake beneficiaries, primarily relatives of the mill owners.
- Total Amount Misappropriated
- ₹3.3 Crore
- Location 1
- Hanamkonda District (Shayampet Mandal)
- Location 2
- Mancherial District (Jaipur Mandal)
- Season
- Rabi 2024-25
- System Used
- Online Paddyy Procurement Management System (OPMS)
- Method
- Creation of fictitious farmer profiles and fraudulent paddy procurement claims