Agriculture Ministry suspends officer over alleged bribe demand for warehouse subsidy
A Marketing Officer has been suspended after a complaint alleged demands of ₹1 lakh and ₹60,000 from two warehouses in Madhya Pradesh’s Sehore district for releasing subsidy amounts.
According to the complaint, the alleged demands were made during an inspection in the district.
NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has suspended Marketing Officer Anurag with immediate effect following a complaint alleging that he sought bribes from two warehouses in Madhya Pradesh’s Sehore district in connection with the release of subsidy amounts, an official release said on Monday.
According to the complaint, the alleged demands were made during an inspection in the district. Shivay Warehouse in Bhairunda tehsil was allegedly asked to pay ₹1 lakh, while Shri Krishna Warehouse in Beherakhedi village in the Rehti area was allegedly asked to pay ₹60,000.
The complaint was brought to the attention of Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who directed immediate action. The ministry subsequently ordered the officer’s suspension.
The action comes amid the Agriculture Ministry’s emphasis on addressing complaints concerning irregularities and ensuring that government schemes and benefits reach intended beneficiaries without administrative hurdles. The ministry has also recently stressed stronger monitoring and inspection mechanisms to identify irregularities at an early stage.
The allegations against the officer remain subject to further examination and departmental proceedings.
