Hyderabad, Aug 2026 : Telangana BJP president N. Ramchandra Rao on Thursday alleged a large-scale diversion of government-procured paddy worth around ₹500 crore and urged Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to ensure a fair, transparent and time-bound investigation into the matter.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, Rao said reports of alleged irregularities involving nearly 90,000 tonnes of paddy procured by the government had raised serious concerns among farmers and the public across Telangana.
According to Rao, various media reports have alleged that thousands of tonnes of paddy handed over to rice mills for custom milling were neither available in the mills nor returned to the government in the form of rice. He said the alleged discrepancy had resulted in substantial financial losses to the state exchequer.
The BJP leader also pointed to reports of a growing gap since 2023 between the quantity of paddy supplied to millers and the quantity of rice subsequently received by the government. He said the reported scale of the alleged irregularities warranted a thorough investigation to establish the facts and fix responsibility.
Rao stressed that the government procurement system plays a critical role in protecting the interests of farmers and ensuring the smooth functioning of the public distribution system.
“Any diversion or misuse of government stocks not only causes significant financial loss to the public exchequer but also erodes the confidence of farmers who depend on a transparent, efficient and accountable procurement mechanism,” he said.
Calling for urgent action, Rao demanded that the ongoing investigation be conducted independently and without bias. He said anyone found responsible for wrongdoing should face strict action under the law, regardless of their position, influence or affiliations.
The BJP leader also called for stronger safeguards across the entire paddy procurement chain, including procurement, transportation, storage and custom milling.
He argued that merely investigating the alleged diversion would not be sufficient and that systemic changes were needed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Rao urged the state government to strengthen monitoring mechanisms, improve accountability and introduce greater transparency in the handling of government-procured paddy and rice.
He said the issue should be accorded the highest priority given its potential financial implications and its impact on farmers.
The BJP leader emphasised that protecting public funds and restoring confidence among Telangana's farming community should remain central to the government's response.
He called upon the Chief Minister to ensure that the investigation is completed expeditiously, accountability is fixed wherever wrongdoing is established and corrective measures are implemented across the procurement system.
Team Maverick
