Guwahati, March 17 -- A huge financial discrepancy has emerged within Assam's Agriculture Department, revealing alleged fraudulent payments for undelivered black gram seeds.

An RTI inquiry uncovered that officials paid for 20,000 kg of seeds, but received only 12,408 kg, resulting in a loss of 7,592 kg worth of public funds.

Activist Dilip Nath of Dhekiajuli exposed the scam through an RTI application, revealing that the department, under Agriculture Minister Atul Borah, overpaid Salasar Agro Services, a Guwahati-based firm.

The seeds were intended for distribution to farmers in Golaghat district in 2023, as part of state agricultural initiatives.

Official records show the Director of Agriculture ordered 20,000 kg of Black Gram Kota U...