119 Bags of Subsidised Urea Seized From Ahmedabad's Narol Textile Mill

Narol police have seized 119 bags of government-subsidised neem-coated urea worth approximately ₹31,000 from Kajal Textiles Mill Pvt. Ltd. in Ahmedabad for alleged illegal use in textile processing. The action followed a Gandhinagar laboratory report confirming that the fertiliser was intended for agricultural use. An FIR has been registered against mill owner Ayubbhai Iqbalbhai Surti and manager Zuber Mehboobbhai Paliwala under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Fertiliser Control Order, 1985, and the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

Tip-Off Leads to Seizure at Narol Mill

On September 22, Narol police received information that subsidised urea meant for farmers was being stored and used for industrial operations at Kajal Textiles Mill Pvt. Ltd., located in a lane near Noor Masjid on Piplaj-Pirana Road.

Acting on the information, police searched the mill’s open warehouse, which had a shutter, and found bags of yellow, granular urea fertiliser. They seized 119 bags worth around ₹31,000 and 16 empty bags.

The manager, Zuber Mehboobbhai Paliwala, 37, a resident of Salvi Ni Pol in Jamalpur, was present at the warehouse but allegedly failed to produce bills or supporting documents to justify the stock. During questioning, he reportedly told police that the fertiliser had been procured by the company’s owner, Ayubbhai Iqbalbhai Surti, a resident of the area opposite Classic Park in Juhapura.

Gandhinagar Laboratory Confirms Agricultural Use

Police collected samples from the seized stock and sent them to a fertiliser testing laboratory in Gandhinagar. The report confirmed that the entire stock was intended for agricultural use.

Following the findings, agriculture officer Bhavinkumar Rameshbhai Rupapara lodged a complaint against the mill owner and manager. Narol police subsequently registered a case under relevant provisions of the BNS, the Fertiliser Control Order, 1985, and the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. Further investigation is underway.

Subsidised Urea Allegedly Used to Cut Industrial Costs

Under government regulations, neem-coated urea is supplied to farmers at subsidised rates exclusively for agricultural purposes. Distribution takes place through Point of Sale (PoS) machines after biometric authentication using the farmer’s thumb impression.

Textile processing, dyeing and printing mills, however, are required to use technical-grade industrial urea, which is considerably more expensive than subsidised agricultural fertiliser.

Investigators suspect that subsidised urea was being procured and stored illegally for textile processing to reduce production costs and secure higher profits. The alleged diversion is under investigation.

Brand-Wise Details of Seized Material

Police seized a total of 119 bags of urea and 16 empty bags from the mill’s warehouse.

• GNFC: 54 bags
• IFFCO: 47 bags
• GSFC: 12 bags
• KRIBHCO: 6 bags
• Empty GNFC bags: 14
• Empty IFFCO bags: 2

The seized urea was valued at approximately ₹31,000.