Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has taken serious note of complaints of bribery in the Agriculture Department. Acting on complaints that bribes were sought from warehouse operators in exchange for the release of subsidy payments, the Union Minister has ordered the immediate suspension of two more marketing officers, Neeraj Verma and Sandeep Deedawat.
The two officers allegedly demanded bribes during warehouse inspections in return for processing subsidy payments. The complaints reached the Union Minister, who, after taking the matter seriously and directing an inquiry, ordered immediate action against both officials.
Marketing Officer Neeraj Verma, posted in Bhopal under the Union Ministry of Agriculture, allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 50,000 from warehouse operators in Sehore district in exchange for the release of subsidy payments.
Similarly, Marketing Officer Sandeep Deedawat, posted in Faridabad, allegedly demanded Rs 60,000 from the operator of Prakash Warehouse in Raisen during an inspection, in exchange for releasing the subsidy amount.
After the complaints came to light, Chouhan took serious note of the matter and directed senior officials of the Agriculture Ministry to conduct an inquiry and initiate action. Following the inquiry, Marketing Officers Neeraj Verma and Sandeep Deedawat were suspended with immediate effect. The Ministry has made it clear that complaints of irregularities or bribery in government procedures involving farmers and warehouse operators will be treated seriously.
In a similar case, Marketing Officer Anurag was recently suspended with immediate effect on the directions of Chouhan for allegedly demanding a bribe from a warehouse operator in exchange for releasing subsidy payments. Two more officers have now faced action on September 23, taking the number of recent suspensions in such cases to three. Shri Chouhan has been taking consistent action against cases of corruption in the Agriculture Department. Amid repeated complaints, the Ministry’s action is being viewed as a firm message against bribery and irregularities in government procedures.
