Paddy scam: Cases against co-op MDs

KORAPUT: The Koraput unit of the Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd (OSCSC) has filed two separate police complaints against the former managing directors (MDs) of large-area multipurpose co-operative societies (LAMPS) of Umuri and Kundura. They allegedly purchased paddy exceeding the target assigned to them during the kharif marketing season.
According to civil supplies officer (Koraput) Ballav Chandra Das, the district central cooperative bank (DCCB), Koraput, signed an agreement to purchase paddy on behalf of the OSCSC, Koraput, for the kharif marketing season 2014-15.
However, the Umuri and Kundura LAMPS, the purchasing units of the DCCB, purchased 62,826.30 and 9,911 quintals of paddy in excess respectively on June 30, over and above the target.
"On verification of records submitted by the MDs concerned to the inquiring officer sub-collector, Jeypore, it was ascertained that accounts were not maintained properly due to which the administration was compelled to disallow the purchase of excess paddy," Das said.
"So, we filed police complaints to initiate legal action against the two MDs," he added.
While the complaint against the Kundura MD was filed at Kundura police station, the case against the Umuri MD was lodged at Jeypore Sadar police station recently.
At present, the two former MDs, Rebati Nandan Ojha (Umuri) and Tarini Bishoyi (Kundura), are under suspension.
Meanwhile, around 900 farmers, who claimed to have sold paddy to the LAMPS on June 30, are yet to get their payments.