A suspected financial embezzlement involving more than ₹76 lakh at the Anupshahr Agricultural Produce Market Committee has led to major administrative action. Based on the findings of a three-member inquiry committee, the acting Mandi Secretary and Mandi Inspector have been suspended, while the services of an outsourced computer operator have been terminated. The alleged irregularities came to light after a retired clerk left service and complaints began emerging over discrepancies in outstanding amounts shown against traders on the market committee’s online portal.
The matter is linked to a clerk who retired from the market committee on September 30, 2025. According to the allegations, he retired without obtaining a no-dues certificate and without properly handing over charge. The market administration subsequently examined its records after discrepancies surfaced, leading to the discovery of several suspected financial irregularities.
2018 Receipt Book Allegedly Used for Years
According to the complaint filed with the police, the accused clerk allegedly used a cash receipt book issued in 2018 without authorisation between 2022 and 2025. During this period, he allegedly collected substantial amounts in cash from traders towards market fees, development cess and rent.
The complaint alleges that instead of depositing the collected money into the government account, the outstanding demand shown on the market committee’s online portal was allegedly reduced fraudulently. This allegedly made the official records show lower dues, while the amounts collected from traders were not fully deposited into the government account.
Manipulation of Receipts Also Alleged
The inquiry also reportedly detected another irregularity involving the receipt book. It was alleged that the upper copy of a receipt was left blank while a lower amount was entered on the carbon copy. Through this alleged method, an additional amount of ₹13,410 was reportedly misappropriated.
As scrutiny intensified and the possibility of action increased, the retired clerk allegedly deposited the principal amount of ₹75,99,350 in instalments into a bank account. However, the interest amount of ₹15,12,240 calculated on the alleged embezzled amount and the additional ₹13,410 were not deposited.
As a result, a total liability of ₹15,25,650 is still reportedly outstanding. The market administration subsequently approached the police, and a named case was registered against the retired clerk at Anupshahr police station.
Officials Face Action After Inquiry
Considering the seriousness of the allegations, the market department constituted a three-member inquiry committee. The panel examined records, demands recorded on the online portal, receipt books and financial transactions. On the basis of its findings, the government ordered the suspension of the acting Mandi Secretary and the Mandi Inspector.
The services of the outsourced computer operator were also terminated. According to officials, the operator’s role came under scrutiny in connection with the records maintained on the online portal and alleged changes in outstanding demands.
Traders’ Records and Financial Trail Under Scrutiny
Police and departmental authorities are now examining how many traders may have been affected by the alleged irregularities and the total amount involved. Records relating to cash collections, bank transactions, portal entries and old market committee documents are being compared to establish the extent of the suspected financial misconduct.
The investigation is also focused on how the alleged irregularities continued for several years and whether other individuals played a role in changing or maintaining the records. Authorities are examining whether the portal entries corresponded with the actual amounts collected from traders and whether the receipt records were properly maintained.
The administrative action against the officials has been taken on the basis of the inquiry report, while the criminal case against the retired clerk is proceeding separately. Investigators are expected to determine whether additional people were involved in the alleged manipulation or benefited from the transactions.
Further action will depend on the evidence emerging from the departmental inquiry, financial records and police investigation. Authorities are also examining the remaining ₹15.25 lakh liability and the circumstances under which the principal amount was deposited after the alleged irregularities came under scrutiny.
