Investigation team unearths subsidy scam in Sonepat’s Horticulture Dept

Sonepat: The investigation team exposed a major breakthrough in the Horticulture Department of Sonepat. The squad found nine individuals, including some department officials and farmers, guilty of misusing the government’s subsidy funds. The team has been taking criminal action against the culprits under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The team has started an investigation after getting a tip-off about the misuse of the funds. The squad first knocked on the door of the District Horticulture Office on January 30. They thoroughly checked the several schemes, such as mushroom farming, bamboo stacking, and plastic tunnels; they were reserved for the Scheduled Caste (SC) beneficiaries.

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As per the official report, several farmers received a subsidy of Rs 51,000 despite not having training certificates from the Mushroom Research Centre at Maharana Pratap Horticulture University, Murthal. The investigation further said that a person named Siya Ram created his brother Surender’s fake documents on the advice of Chand Ram, revealing that his 14 mushroom sheds were owned by his family members; this way, they got extra subsidies. Siya Ram later candidly said that Chand Ram had also taken 50% of the subsidy amount.

The police have registered a case against District Horticulture Officer Pramod Kumar along with other culprits. Further investigation had been taking place. The case raises the corruption levels within the Horticulture Department. Authorities are taking strict action against all the guilty parties.