The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Anantapur News : Pesticide racket busted

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 11, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Pesticide racket busted

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR, OCT. 10. The task force of the Anantapur sub-division police led by DSP Vijaykumar busted a spurious bio-control pesticide racket operating with the district headquarters town as the centre today. One person was arrested and a huge quantity of ready-for-sale `pesticide' stock and some lab material were seized.

According to the police, Boda Suryanarayana Murthy (55) of Tapeswaram village in East Godavari district had been carrying on the lucrative business for the last three years. The activity did not come to the public notice here as he was selling his `pesticides' in Belgaum, Dharwad, Shimoga and other areas in Karnataka and was earning lakhs of rupees every year.

Tip-off from workers

The racket was busted with the help of a tip-off received from about 15 workers of Murthy, who were questioned by the police recently. After checking with the agriculture department and the market the police came to the conclusion that it was a spurious pesticide racket.

Along with the Assistant Director of Agriculture, Jonathan, the police team raided the residence-cum-manufacturing unit of Murthy located in ADCCB colony in the Ramachandra Nagar extension. He was preparing the `pesticides' with the help of some fertilizers and chemicals and selling it in Karnataka.

He was charging Rs. 125 for a 30 ml bottle and Rs. 360 for a 100 ml bottle of `pesticide.' He was selling them for virus and pest cure on crops like groundnut, papaya, ladyfinger, tomato, arecanut among others. He was selling them in the brand name of "Perfect.'' The police also seized publicity material printed in Kannada.

Dubious claim

On being questioned about licence for his activity, Murthy told the police that it was based on homoeopathic and Ayurvedic preparation and did not require any permission. However, the agriculture officials stated that permission from the Commissioner of Agriculture was a must for such activity.

Murthy was also said to have deceived two farmers of Srirangapuram village near Nandyal in Kurnool district. He had purchased about 25 quintals of castor seed from them three years ago and did not pay about Rs. 80,000 to the farmers.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh

News Update

Stories in this Section

Pesticide racket busted

Input subsidy sought for groundnut ryots