The police seized 45 kg of spurious cotton seeds and arrested a farmer named T. Vishweswar Rao of Matedu village in Thorrur mandal on Thursday.
On credible information, the police and agricultural officials raided the house of the farmer. He was selling cotton seed in loose gunny bags without any name of the company or batch number. He was selling the each bag at ₹ 1,200.
He evaded answers when other farmers questioned him about the potentiality of the seeds. The seeds were being sold in Thorrur, Mahbubabad, Maripeda, Kuravi, Chinna Guduru and other mandals of the district.
Some farmers approached the agriculture officials and filed a complaint. The Agriculture Department officials notified the police and after investigation, they raided the house of Vishweswar Rao the main accused behind this racket.
Thorrur Sub Inspector Ramana Murthy said that initial investigation had revealed that Vishweswar Rao has procured these seeds from Andhra Pradesh.
District Agriculture Officer Chatru Naik, ADA Gouse Haider, and AO Venkanna said they had seized 45 kg of fake seeds.