Fake traders dupe Mhow farmer of over Rs8L after taking away 70 tonne onions

Mhow: A farmer from the Simrol area of Mhow tehsil was allegedly duped of more than Rs 8.6 lakh by three men posing as onion traders, who took away nearly 70 tons of onions after showing forged identity and mandi licence documents.

Based on a complaint filed by the farmer, Simrol police have registered a case under Section 316(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and launched a search for the accused.

Station house officer Kuldeep Khatri said Leeladhar Silwadiya, 51, a resident of Datoda village, had harvested his onion crop and stored it at his house when three men approached him last month, introducing themselves as onion and garlic traders.

The accused showed Aadhaar cards and mandi licences, convincing the farmer that they were genuine buyers. A deal was struck and Leeladhar arranged 1,408 bags of onions, each weighing 50 kg, from his own produce as well as from five other farmers.

The onions, valued at Rs 8.63 lakh were loaded into a truck brought by the trio. One of the accused assured the farmer that the payment would be credited to his account the next day.

After waiting for nearly a week without receiving any money, the farmer verified the documents provided by the buyers and discovered that the Aadhaar cards and mandi licences were fake. He then approached the police.