Jamnagar Farmer Accuses Trader of Rs 97 Lakh Crop Payment Fraud
A serious case of alleged financial fraud has emerged from the agricultural heartland of Gujarat, where a farmer from Jamnagar district has filed a formal police complaint against a local farm produce trader for cheating him and multiple other cultivators of substantial amounts.
Details of the Alleged Agricultural Fraud
The complainant, identified as 30-year-old Kuldeep Kothiya from Soratha village in Kalavad taluka of Jamnagar district, has named Dilip Savaliya, a resident of Kalavad who operates in agricultural commodity trading, as the accused in this significant financial deception case.
According to the police complaint, Savaliya allegedly purchased various agricultural commodities including groundnut, sesame, and white chickpeas from Kothiya and 18 other farmers during the 2025–26 agricultural season. However, the trader failed to make complete payments for these purchases, resulting in what authorities are investigating as a fraud amounting to approximately Rs 96.97 lakh.
Three-Year Business Relationship Turns Sour
Kothiya revealed that he had maintained business dealings with Savaliya for approximately three years before the alleged fraud came to light. The relationship took a troubling turn in January when Kothiya sold a substantial quantity of 1,685 bags of groundnut to Savaliya for an agreed price of Rs 24 lakh.
Despite this significant transaction, Savaliya reportedly paid only Rs 5.90 lakh in cash, leaving a substantial balance unpaid. When Kothiya attempted to follow up regarding the remaining payment, he discovered that Savaliya's phone had been switched off, making communication impossible.
Pattern of Alleged Deception Emerges
Upon conducting further inquiries within the local farming community, Kothiya learned that Savaliya had allegedly engaged in similar practices with multiple other farmers in the region. The trader is accused of purchasing agricultural produce from several cultivators and then absconding without clearing their legitimate dues.
This pattern of behavior suggests a systematic approach to defrauding farmers who rely on timely payments for their agricultural produce to sustain their livelihoods and farming operations.
Impact on the Agricultural Community
The alleged fraud of nearly Rs 97 lakh represents a significant financial blow to the affected farmers in Jamnagar district. Such incidents highlight the vulnerabilities that agricultural producers sometimes face when dealing with intermediaries in the supply chain.
Local authorities have registered the complaint and are investigating the matter to determine the full extent of the alleged fraud and locate the accused trader. The case underscores the importance of secure payment mechanisms and transparent business practices in agricultural transactions, particularly for small and marginal farmers who form the backbone of India's agricultural sector.
