Rs 7 crore meant to pay cane farmers siphoned off in UP's Hapur, govt official and bank manager among 5 booked

MEERUT: An FIR was filed against five people, including a govt official and a manager of a private bank, after an investigation revealed that they allegedly embezzled nearly Rs 7 crore from the Cooperative Sugarcane Development Committee office in Hapur district.The alleged scam came to light when the newly appointed chairman, Kunal Chaudhary, initiated an inquiry into delays in payment to sugarcane farmers."In April 2025, Sugar Mill Brajnathpur deposited Rs 3 crore for disbursement to farmers. When the time came to pay the farmers, the money could not be traced. An internal probe revealed that the scam was on since 2022. The accused siphoned off money from the committee’s bank account. It was meant for farmers' welfare and sugarcane payments. The matter was reported to the district magistrate,” said Chaudhary.Hapur DM Abhishek Pandey told TOI that an investigation revealed that an accountant at the committee, Bharat Kashyap, along with other committee members and a private bank manager, allegedly siphoned off around Rs 7 crore using fraudulent vouchers and transferred the money to bank accounts held by his relatives."Forged signatures of the committee secretary on fake documentation were used to siphon off the money. The matter didn’t come to light earlier as they would arrange funds from elsewhere and deposit it into the committee’s bank account at the time of sugarcane payment. Later, when sugar mills deposited money, they would withdraw it," Pandey said.The DM has now formed a team of four members, led by the additional DM, to probe the matter. The district cane officer (DCO) is also a member of the probe team. “Following a preliminary investigation report, an FIR has been ordered while a detailed magisterial investigation report will be submitted in 15 days. Actions will be taken accordingly,” the DM said.The FIR was registered against Bharat Kashyap, his two sisters Ruby Kashyap and Chanchal, private bank manager Amit Kumar and committee secretary Manoj Kumar. Kashyap had transferred the money to his sisters’ bank accounts.“An FIR under BNS sections of fraud and cheating was registered. Investigation has started and arrests would be made soon,” said Hapur ASP Vineet Bhatnagar, adding Kashyap is absconding.“Without the DCO’s involvement, such a scam wouldn’t be possible. The DCO should be kept out of the probe team for fair investigation,” said Sudhir Chaudhary, state vice-president of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Janshakti).