The Madhya Pradesh High Court has sought district-wise reports after allegations that paddy consignments weighing up to 200 quintals were shown as transported on two- and three-wheelers.

Court Seeks Statewide Reports

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered the state authorities to examine alleged irregularities in paddy procurement and transportation across 27 districts, following claims of large-scale manipulation in official records.

The case came before the court after it was told that consignments ranging from 10 to 200 quintals had allegedly been recorded as transported using two- and three-wheelers. The court has sought reports covering the alleged irregularities instead of limiting the inquiry to one district.

Jabalpur Inquiry Raises Alarm

The allegations gained significance after an inquiry in Jabalpur reportedly uncovered irregularities estimated at around ₹34 crore. The investigation also led to registration of FIRs against about 90 people, according to the submissions made before the court.

The Jabalpur findings have now prompted scrutiny of whether similar practices occurred elsewhere in Madhya Pradesh. The High Court's intervention places the procurement and transportation records of 27 districts under closer examination.

Vehicles Raise Key Questions

The central issue before the court concerns the feasibility of transporting large quantities of paddy using small vehicles. Records allegedly showed consignments between 10 and 200 quintals being moved on two-wheelers and three-wheelers.

Such entries have raised questions about the authenticity of transportation records and whether vehicles shown in official documents actually carried the quantities attributed to them.

The allegations will have to be verified through the reports sought by the court. At this stage, the claims remain part of the proceedings and do not amount to a judicial finding of wrongdoing by every person named in the allegations.

Procurement Process Under Scrutiny

Paddy procurement involves multiple stages, including registration of farmers, weighing, purchase, storage and transportation to designated locations. Records generated at different stages provide the basis for payments and movement of the crop.

Any manipulation in transportation records can therefore affect the integrity of the wider procurement chain. The High Court's order brings attention to whether checks at procurement centres and during transportation were adequate.

A previous Jabalpur case illustrates the type of irregularities that authorities have encountered. In a 2024 matter, the High Court recorded allegations involving the storage and mixing of tens of thousands of quintals of paddy and noted that a government committee had inspected the premises.

FIRs Against 90 People

The reported registration of FIRs against around 90 people following the Jabalpur inquiry adds a criminal-investigation dimension to the matter. The cases are expected to establish how procurement and transportation records were allegedly manipulated and who, if anyone, benefited from the irregularities.

The court's wider inquiry could also help determine whether the alleged pattern remained confined to Jabalpur or appeared in other districts.

27 Districts Now In Focus

The High Court has sought reports covering alleged irregularities across 27 districts. The exercise could require authorities to compare procurement records, transportation details, vehicle registrations and quantities recorded against individual consignments.

Such cross-checking could provide a clearer picture of whether discrepancies resulted from isolated administrative errors or indicate a broader pattern.

State Must Explain Records

The proceedings put the state government and its procurement machinery under pressure to account for the records cited before the court. Authorities will have to place the findings of district-level examinations before the judiciary and explain any discrepancies identified during verification.

The case also highlights the importance of physical verification in a procurement system that relies heavily on digital entries and transport documentation.

The MP paddy scam inquiry now moves beyond the reported Jabalpur irregularities, with the High Court seeking a wider assessment across 27 districts. The reports could determine the scale of the alleged manipulation and whether further investigation or action is required.