Former Haripur food official accused of corruption

A corruption scandal has reportedly emerged in the Haripur Food Department involving the alleged illegal sale of wheat worth millions of rupees.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa deputy director of food had earlier written to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary, secretary food, director anti-corruption and director NAB about the alleged corruption.

According to the letter, a former district food controller (DFC) allegedly sold wheat worth around Rs80-90 million illegally during 2015-16. Although an inquiry was initiated by the department, it was reportedly shelved due to the political influence of a former food minister and a former food secretary.

The deputy director stated that the accused was exonerated without investigation due to this political backing.

He further claimed that the ex-DFC purchased a house worth Rs30 million in Gulberg Colony, Abbottabad, and sent his son to the UK for higher education.

It was also alleged that he gifted luxury vehicles and other items to a senior female clerk, with whom he reportedly worked closely in postings. The deputy director added that the former DFC always kept the clerk in his team.

Further allegations suggest that over Rs 70 million worth of wheat has gone missing from Haripur's food procurement for the 2024-25 season. The former officials are accused of once again selling wheat illegally from the Haripur food warehouse.

The newly appointed Haripur DFC Tariq Khan has reportedly refrained from taking charge of the warehouse, allegedly due to awareness of the missing wheat stock worth Rs70-80 million.

The duo is accused of causing a loss of around Rs 150 million to the national exchequer.