FIRs against UP sugar mill owners, industry cries foul

Sugar industry in Uttar Pradesh is crying foul over lodging of FIRs against top functionaries of several sugar companies, accusing them of committing non-bailable offences under the Essential Commodities Act, forgery, cheating and alleged underweighing of sugarcane.

Among those named in the FIRs registered last week are Shishir and Kushagra Bajaj of the Bajaj group, Gautam Morarka of Dwarikesh group, Dhruv Sahani of Triveni group and Gurumeet Singh Maan of Simbhaoli group. Morarka is also a member of the national executive of the BJP.

K N Shukla, the secretary of the UP Sugar Mills Association, said they were clueless why the state government was targeting the industry.

“Sugar mills have been raided by officials of the Cane Department and FIRs lodged against the occupier and owners of the mills,” he said.

The Samajwadi Party alleged that the government action was aimed at extortion.

“Mayawati has promoted organised corruption in a big way and the drive against the sugar mills is nothing but extortion ahead of her birthday on January 15,” alleged SP state president Akhilesh Yadav.

Cane Commissioner Kamran Rizvi defended the crackdown, saying, “Underweighing of sugarcane is rampant in UP and the problem needs to be tackled with a heavy hand. I have to face embarrassment over the issue during annual meetings with representatives of farmers.”

The Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) countered the charge. “Shortweighing on such a large-scale across UP is not possible. Wherever it it happening, the mills should be prosecuted under the UP Sugarcane Purchase (Control) Order 1954. How can draconian charges like Section 3/7 of the Essential Commodities Act, forgery and cheating be invoked?,” said an ISMA official.

He added that it wasn’t the job of top functionaries of companies to run sugarcane purchase centres.

“If there’s any irregularity, it’s the local officials and CEO who are responsible,” he said, pointing out that the allegations of short-weighing, which have led to the FIRs, constitute a compoundable offence under Section 22 of the UP Sugarcane Purchase (Control) Order 1954. “It’s intriguing to see charges of forgery, cheating and violation of Essential Commodities Act in the FIR,” he said.

source: indianexpress