Punjab MSP fraud scam: 5 accused ‘took 40% commission’ to divert payments

Chandigarh: Five of the accused who are among the 18 (including one unknown) named in the FIR in the alleged minimum support price (MSP) scam registered by cybercrime division of Punjab Police told investigators that they "took a commission of 40% to give details of their bank accounts" in which the MSP amount meant for farmers was fraudulently received by the alleged fraudsters.
The FIR registered on Dec 23 last year in the case for alleged manipulation of Anaaj Kharid portal to divert crop payment meant for farmers in the 2024-25 Kharif season said that the five accused, who were among those asked to join the investigations during the course of a preliminary inquiry which eventually formed the basis of registration of the case, stated that they got "lured" by the 40% commission.
The five accused, Sunil Chauhan, Gagandeep Singh, Boota Singh, Balwinder Singh Arora and Dilbag Singh, according to the FIR, told police that they used to keep 40% of the money credited to their accounts and give the remaining amount to four persons, Mehakdeep Singh alias Deep, Amandeep Singh, Angrej Singh and Jasvir Singh alias Sira, to whom they provided their bank account details.
While Jasvir Singh and Angrej Singh are among the four arrested by the police, Mehakdeep and Amandeep are at large. The other two arrested are Manish and Balwinder Singh. Police said they have also recovered digital devices and routers used in the crime.
A police official said, "The investigations are on. At this stage, we can't say who masterminded the fraud, but Mehakdeep and Amandeep are among the prominent accused in the case. Things will be clearer after their arrest."
The official said a "mule phone number" was used to receive the one-time passwords (OTPs). The FIR mentioned that the phone number was registered in the name of a Haryana resident, currently residing in Mataur, and was issued on Oct 10, 2024, from Sector 71 in Mohali.
An unknown person has been booked for using the mobile number.
Among the five, Chauhan has obtained interim bail, the police official said, adding that other four were "absconding".
The FIR was registered following a complaint by Punjab food, civil supplies and consumer affairs department seeking a probe into fraudulent transfer of money by miscreants who allegedly changed the bank account number of farmers on the portal.
Among the accused named in the FIR are owners of four commission agent firms as the changes in account details on the portal for fraudulent transfers were allegedly made using their IDs.
The FIR said two commission agent firms were linked to alleged fraudulent transactions amounting to over Rs 25 lakh. The FIR also stated that it also investigated 12 other suspect transactions as provided by the food, civil supplies and consumer affairs department. Of these, the FIR details seven alleged fraudulent transfers amounting to Rs 16.81 lakh.
Manish who is among the four arrested, according to the FIR, ran "Janta café" in Muktsar and his call detail records showed he was regularly in touch with Mehakdeep and Amandeep. Police said the scrutiny of Internet Protocols (IPs) led them to Manish who also "files returns of the arhtiyas".
The FIR was registered under sections 318 (4) (cheating), 336(2) (forgery), 336(3)(forgery committed with intent to cheat), 338 (forgery of valuable documents), 340 (2)(used of forged documents and electronic records) of BNS and 61(2), 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act at Punjab state cybercrime police station, Mohali.
BOX
Key suspects on the run
Accused altered bank account details on the portal to divert MSP payments meant for farmers
The accused admitted to taking a 40% commission for providing their bank account details to facilitate the fraudulent transactions
Police are still investigating, with some key suspects remaining at large. Digital devices and routers linked to the crime have been recovered
The FIR was filed under multiple sections, including cheating and forgery
The case involves misuse of the Anaaj Kharid portal and fraudulent financial transfers
MSID:: 117643883 413 |
MSID:: 117643883 413 |