Jalna crop aid scam: 21 officials suspended so far, 89 found guilty in inquiry

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Eighty-nine 89 govt employees have been found guilty in the ongoing collector-appointed committee inquiry into the crop compensation scam in Jalna district that involved the misappropriation of around Rs 40 crore in aid sanctioned for farmers between 2022 and 2024. The accused include talathis, gram sevaks and agricultural assistants.

District collector Shrikrishna Panchal has so far suspended 21 officials in connection with the scam. Last week, 10 talathis were suspended. On Thursday, action was taken against 11 more officials, including seven talathis and four assistant revenue staff.

Those privy to the ongoing inquiry maintained that there was misuse of login credentials originally given to the revenue staffers for accessing the system.

The inquiry, initiated after complaints from farmers, revealed that aid was granted by showing bogus claims, duplicating beneficiary names and issuing compensation to those without land ownership. The collector-appointed committee submitted its report confirming the financial misappropriation.

Departmental inquiries have also been initiated against 35 more talathis. The inquiry report has recommended action against five tehsildars and six naib tehsildars. Their written explanations have been sought and the matter has been referred to state govt.

Panchal confirmed that action was taken against officials who failed to give satisfactory replies to the explanation notices. The inquiry into other employees is still underway. He said once the inquiry was completed, the district administration was likely to register FIRs against those found guilty of usurping aid meant for compensating the crop losses resulting from natural calamities.

Former minister and BJP MLA Babanrao Lonikar has alleged that the scam was pegged at over Rs 100 crore and demanded immediate registration of FIRs against all govt officials. "I have raised this issue with CM Devendra Fadnavis. I am also going to take it up during the assembly session. The district administration should first push for FIRs against all the accused involved in the scam," Lonikar said.

The MLA has demanded that there should not be any further delay in the FIRs against all the accused.