Odisha EOW nabs another dealer in Rs 12 crore Agro-equipment subsidy fraud

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) arrested Chautura Deep, Proprietor of M/s KBK Deep Agro Sales, in connection with the Rs 12 crore agro-equipment subsidy fraud.

Earlier, Pradeep Kumar Acharya, Managing Director of M/s Annapurna Agro International Pvt. Ltd. and two dealers - Prabha Ranjan Dash and Shaik Fayaz- were arrested for their alleged involvement in the case.

Deputy SP had earlier registered a case after learning about a similar fraud by the Managing Director of M/s Annapurna Agro International Pvt. Ltd. in connivance with its dealers in misappropriating the Government subsidy meant for the farmers/beneficiaries.

The subsidy was granted for the purchase of agro equipment amounting to Rs 12 crore and the fraud was committed by using forged documents/email ID, UTR etc. Chautura Deep is the proprietor of M/s KBK Deep Agro Sales, registered dealer of M/s Annapurna Agro International Pvt. Ltd., Balasore, which is a manufacturing unit of agro equipment.

As per EOW, the firm is registered under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Scheme, both as manufacturer and dealer of Agro implements like post-harvest machines, power driven equipment and rotavator.

“The company has appointed 115 dealers throughout Odisha, and in active connivance with the dealers including the present accused Chautura Deep during the FY 2016-17 to 2019-20, has uploaded a series of false/fake invoices/data/information/UTR pertaining to supply/sale of 1766 agro equipment to equal number of farmers/ beneficiaries and managed to avail subsidy amount to the tune of crore under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Scheme,” said EOW.