A large-scale illegal business involved in manufacturing fake seeds and fertilizers has been exposed in Bihar's Araria district. A joint team from the Agriculture Department and the police raided a godown on Thursday evening in Gaiyari village, located approximately 5 kilometers from the district headquarters.

The godown, situated in Jhameli Shah's house, was being operated by Dheeraj Sah, who also owns a fertilizer shop at Zero Mile. During the raid, the team discovered cheap maize seeds being packed into wrappers of renowned companies like Pioneer. Additionally, DAP fertilizer made from salt was being filled into sacks of major brands.

Upon seeing the raiding team, the godown owner locked the premises and fled. The lock was subsequently broken in the presence of a panchayat representative, and a thorough search of the godown was conducted. The investigating team included District Agriculture Officer Pankaj Kumar, Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer Vikas Kumar, Plant Protector Rituraj, and Agriculture Coordinator Manish Kumar.

Preliminary investigations revealed that these counterfeit products were intended to be sold to farmers under the guise of reputable brands, potentially leading to widespread fraud. A detailed investigation into the manufacturing of fake fertilizers is also underway. With the godown owner absconding, a comprehensive examination of the recovered materials, seed quality, packaging, and the actual condition of the fertilizers is being conducted. Only after the completion of this investigation will it become clear what type of seeds and fertilizers were stored in the godown and who all were involved in this illicit trade. This joint action by the Agriculture Department and the police has caused a stir among those involved in the fake agricultural products business in the region.