Fifty clerks working at sugarcane procurement centres and sugar mills across Uttar Pradesh have faced punitive actions related to the illegal procurement of sugarcane by sugar mills and middlemen, as well as irregularities in the purchase and supply system. As many as 14 FIRs have been filed across the state, and legal notices have been issued in 31 cases of irregularities identified at procurement points in sugar mills and other centres.
Following instructions from the state cane commissioner, Pramod Kumar Upadhyay, departmental officials conducted inspections at 16,203 cane procurement centres and took legal action against those found guilty. Of the 14 FIRs, five were filed against sugar mills, including three located in Bareilly, Moradabad, and Lakhimpur Kheri.
Upadhyay emphasized that these actions were in line with the state government’s zero-tolerance policy against corruption and malpractices. He also stated that 3,073.91 quintals of sugarcane, valued at Rs 11,26,746, were seized for being procured through unfair means. In addition, district magistrates (DMs) took legal action in 412 cases involving serious anomalies, and three cases were forwarded to the courts, Upadhyay added.
