Gauhati High Court seeks up-to-date report on PM Kisan scam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court has directed the State Government to file a detailed report along with an up-to-date status report in connection with the PM Kisan scheme scam in Assam.

During hearing of a PIL in the matter, Advocate General Devajit Saikia admitted that the issue raised by the petitioners is genuine. He informed the court that the State Government is making efforts for enquiry into the matter and recovery of money from fraudulent beneficiaries. Legal proceedings have also been initiated against some Government officials who were found involved in such illegal activity, Saikia stated.

It may be recalled that the State Government recently informed the court through an additional affidavit that 11.72 lakh ineligible people fraudulently received benefits in the State under the Centre's PM Kisan scheme.

Joint Secretary of the Agriculture Department, Gunajeet Kashyap, stated the affidavit that the magnitude of the scam was brought to light in 2020 by the one-man enquiry led by the then Additional Chief Secretary Jishnu Baruah.

The affidavit further stated: "Subsequent thereto, the process of recovery started and district officials issued notices to such persons individually and also published notices in newspapers asking them to refund the money received. As of now, Rs 1.5 crore (approx) of money has been recovered."

According to the affidavit, on June 7, 2021, the newly-elected Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had directed that third-party verification be done to identify ineligible beneficiaries. Later, on August 12, the State Government issued a Notification relaxing the land policy "which would make many genuine farmers eligible. Now, the verification process is going on."

The affidavit also mentioned that the Agriculture Department has so far suspended the district agriculture officer of Morigaon Saroj Kalita and district agriculture officer of Barpeta Krishna Pathak. Two data entry operators of the Morigaon and Dhubri districts have been dismissed from service.

This apart, the affidavit stated, show-cause notices were served upon 16 district agriculture officers and 98 agricultural development officers, along with all agricultural extension assistants of Barpeta district. The replies of 50 officers were received and 38 cases will be placed before the State Enquiry Officer because of unsatisfactory replies, the affidavit added.

Further, it said, an FIR was lodged by the district agriculture officer of Bongaigaon and two persons have been arrested from Darrang district for having fraudulently added the names of 734 beneficiaries to the PM Kisan portal. Hearing of the matter will resume on April 5.

Also Read: 11.72 lakh ineligible beneficiaries in PM Kisan scheme in state: Assam Agriculture Department

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