Pic: ShrinivasreddyKalaburagi: A paddy merchant cheated around 40 farmers from Baichbal, Karadkal and Kudalagi villages in Hunasigi taluk, Yadgir district, by purchasing 12,921 packets of paddy and not paying them.
Farmers who grew paddy in their fields sold it to a paddy merchant, Shrinivasreddy, a couple of months ago, but the merchant is now absconding without paying the farmers. Paddy worth over Rs 1.9 crore was purchased by Shrinivasreddy, assuring them that he would pay the amount within the next 15 days.However, for the past 2 months, the merchant has been absconding. Farmers looked for him in many places but could not locate him. They are now worried about how to lead their lives, as they grew the paddy by spending money on cultivation.A farmer, Mallanna Bilebavi of Baichabal village, alleged that Shrinivasreddy used to stay in Kannalli camp near their village. He said they sold him their paddy last year too, and he made the payment on time. However, this year, he cheated the farmers and absconded.Every year, the broker used to buy paddy from these farmers and deliver the money every month. In the last two months, he visited the farmers, bought paddy, and set a slightly higher price for it, totalling Rs 1.93 crore. A total of 12,921 packets of rice was loaded in 35 lorries.For 5 or 6 years, he used to buy it and then pay regularly. Hence farmers believed Shrinivasreddy and others and sold their produce to them. Farmers filed an FIR against Shrinivasreddy on Feb 2, but he was still not found.Farmers said that they lost the money over 1 year, and they would not fall into the net of loans. Farmers met the additional SP Dharaneesh in Yadagiri town on Saturday and submitted their complaint to him. Kemmbhavi police have registered a case and are investigating it.
