Kawardha, Chhattisgarh: In a major administrative action, District Marketing Officer (DMO) Abhishek Mishra has been suspended in connection with a ₹7 crore paddy shortage case in Kawardha district of Chhattisgarh. The suspension was ordered by the Managing Director at the state level in Raipur, citing the officer’s misleading and irresponsible statements made to the media.
The action comes amid the extension of the paddy procurement period in the state by two days. On February 3, 2026, the administration suspended Mishra with immediate effect after his controversial remarks sparked widespread criticism.
The case involves an alleged shortage of paddy worth approximately ₹7 crore. When questioned by the media on January 7, 2026, Mishra claimed that the shortage was caused by adverse weather conditions and that rats and termites had consumed the stored paddy. His statement quickly went viral and drew sharp reactions across the state, both on social media and from political parties.
The Congress and Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (Jogi) termed the explanation as gross negligence and demanded strict action against the responsible officials. Following this, the state-level Managing Director concluded that the DMO had provided misleading information to the media and failed to act responsibly, leading to his suspension.
Case Linked to Charbhatha Paddy Storage Center
The incident dates back to the 2024–25 procurement season, during which paddy was purchased from farmers at the Minimum Support Price and stored at the Charbhatha paddy storage center. Ahead of the 2026 procurement season, a physical verification of the old stock revealed a shortage of nearly 26,000 quintals of paddy, valued at around ₹7 crore.
Given the seriousness of the matter, the administration constituted an inquiry committee. The investigation found the role of the then storage center in-charge, Pritesh Pandey, to be suspicious. Evidence of tampering with CCTV cameras installed at the storage facility was also discovered. Pandey was suspended earlier in the case.
It was during questioning related to this investigation that DMO Abhishek Mishra made the controversial remarks about rats and termites, which ultimately led to disciplinary action against him.
The suspension has created a stir within the district administration, and further investigation into the paddy shortage case is ongoing.