CBI's Sweeping Raids must Expose Apple Plant Import Scam Across apple belt of Himachal, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir...

SHIMLA/DEHRADUN: CBI'S MAJOR crackdown on corruption and illegal practices within India's agricultural Horticulture sector have received accolades from the farming community.

But the farmers are urging Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to  bust  sprawling racket involving the unauthorized import of apple and other rootstock plants from the foreign countries as well. 

They have urged to bring the plant materials imported over the years under the world funded Rs 1243 Crore horticulture Development project under the preview of the CBI'S Probe as the import is a big scam as the farmers got the substandard apple plants whose mortality was high. 

This operation will be  safeguarding the Rs 5,000 crore apple industry from the threat of catastrophic viruses. Ceratin greedy individuals are involved in unauthorised trade of apple and other plants without even spending a pie on the trade and they are minting money without following the proper quarantine measures. 

They first get adavance payment from the farmers, charge their commission from this amount in advance and then procure import Apple and other plants without giving them virus free certificates as the plants are not quarantined, charged the Apple growers. 

On June 14, acting on orders from the Uttarakhand High Court and findings from a preliminary enquiry, the CBI conducted sweeping raids across 24 locations in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir.

These efforts targeted a network of individuals bypassing critical quarantine measures, thereby risking the introduction of catastrophic viruses.

 Major Seizures

The CBI's operations led to the recovery of: Cash: Rs 13.5 lakh.

- Fixed Deposits: Seven FDs worth Rs 5 lakh each, totaling Rs 35 lakh, in the name of an accused's wife.

- Documents:Key records related to illegal plant imports and procurement.

Scope and Targets of the Investigation

The investigation focuses on procurement activities from 2022-23, revealing serious irregularities. Key figures named in the FIRs include:

- Former Director: Directorate of Horticulture and Food Processing, Dehradun.

- Chief Horticultural Officers: From Uttarkashi and Dehradun.

- Nursery Development Officer: From Pithoragarh.

- Potato Development Officer: From Udham Singh Nagar.

- Senior Horticulture Inspector: From Dehradun.

- Assistant Development Officer: Office of the Chief Horticulture Officer, Nainital.

- Private Individuals: Including a Dehradun-based proprietor and a nursery owner.

Extensive Raids

The raids spanned the following regions:

- Uttarakhand: Dehradun, Rishikesh, Nainital, Pithoragarh, Udham Singh Nagar.

- Uttar Pradesh: Ambedkarnagar, Baghpat, Noida, Lucknow.

- Himachal Pradesh: Paonta Sahib, Rajgarh, Solan.

- Jammu & Kashmir: Kulgam, Pulwama.

Apple farmers, alarmed by the potential threat to their crops from unregulated imports, are calling for an expanded probe.

They seek to uncover the full extent of the network jeopardizing the industry’s future and to hold all responsible parties accountable.

The CBI's decisive action underscores its dedication to eradicating corruption and protecting the agricultural sector from significant threats.