Akola police form SIT to probe soybean seed poor germination cases

Pune: Akola police have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a coordinated probe into alleged irregularities in the sale and distribution of soybean seeds, following a spate of complaints from farmers during the ongoing kharif season.The SIT was formed on the directions of Akola superintendent of police Arichit Chandok to investigate 13 cases registered across the district since July under provisions of the Seeds Act, Essential Commodities Act and other laws. The cases were registered at police stations including MIDC, Kotwali, Ramdas Peth, Telhara, Akot City, Murtizapur City, Barshitakli, Balapur and Patur.Additional SP B Chandrakant Reddy heads the SIT, which comprises senior police officers, investigating officers, agriculture department officials and personnel from the economic offences wing.“The team had been tasked with uncovering the entire network behind the alleged offences, including the role of seed dealers, distributors, companies and other individuals. Agriculture department officials will assist in examining technical issues related to seed quality, certification, licensing and distribution, while the economic offences wing will track financial transactions,” SP Chandok told TOI on Tuesday.Police said the cases involve substantial financial dealings and directly affect farmers, warranting a comprehensive investigation rather than treating each FIR separately.The SIT will scrutinise purchase and sale records, invoices, stock registers, licences, testing reports and other documents to determine whether the complaints are isolated instances or part of a larger network operating across the district and state.The development comes amid widespread complaints by soybean growers in Maharashtra over poor germination and seed quality. The agriculture department has so far registered 85 FIRs across the state.A senior agriculture official told TOI, “The probe would send a strong message to violators, particularly companies accused of repeatedly indulging in illegal practices and exploiting farmers who often hesitate to file complaints.”