New Delhi, Jul 2 (IANS): Widening the scope of investigation into the multi-crore seed scam, the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh hands over the probe to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the state police.

The scam was allegedly committed during the regime of Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav governments and relates to fake sale and purchase of seeds at a very large scale. With the EOW now taking over the investigation from the local police, a more specialised probe can bring trouble for top bureaucrats including politicians who allegedly turned a blind eye on the financial bunglings going on for years in the Agriculture Ministry.

Priliminary enquiry indicates that quintals of seeds meant for distribution to poor farmers were purchased and supplied, merely on paper by officials of then Uttar Pradesh government. Signatures of officials and the seal of government were blatantly used in 'forged purchase receipts' to siphon off funds.

Enquiry reveals that forged receipts worth Rs 16.56 crore were traced. The scam was unearthed last year when the state seed corporation sent its bills to the Agriculture Department for payment. During routine verification, a few bills worth Rs 99 lakh were found to be forged. Later, a departmental enquiry was initiated to probe the scandal.

Sources said that during Mayawati's tenure as Chief Minister (2007-2012) and later in Akhilesh Yadav's tenure (2012-2017), bills amounting to Rs 16.56 crore had been found forged. The enquiry, which was focused on the Kanpur warehouse, revealed that receipts belonging to two series bearing numbers 9080 and 7188 had been forged. A few key officials and lower rung employees of the store purchased and supplied seeds only on the paper. Later, the forged bills were endorsed by senior officials and payments were made.

Earlier, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed secretaries of important ministries which have large expenditure to focus on internal audits and ensure that the government runs efficiently. The Chief Minister has already suspended several corrupt officials in the Animal Husbandry and Chakbandi departments which have become dens of corruption. Important cases related of corruption like Gomti river water front project and mining scam were earlier handed over to the CBI by the Chief Minister.