Cottonseeds worth Rs 40 lakh seized

The Vigilance officials on Monday raided seed shops in Gurajala town of Guntur district and seized cotton and chilli seeds worth Rs 40 lakhs. Acting on a complaint of Anajaneyulu, a farmer from Dhulipala village in Sattupalli mandal, that the seed shop owners were selling cotton and chilli seeds at exorbitant rates over and above the MRP without the knowledge of the Agricultural Department, the district vigilance SP Ammi Reddy directed the department officials to conduct the raids.

The farmers alleged that some traders were hoarding the stock illegally and selling the seeds at exorbitant prices. Later vigilance officials along with the officials from the agriculture department inspected godowns and took inventory. The vigilance officials said they would produce the seized stock before the court. It was learnt that some shop owners admitted that they charged more than the MRP price from the farmers. Mandal agriculture officer K Anji Reddy, Vigilance constables G Srinivas Rao and K Srinivas Rao participated in the raids.