Farmers who applied for solar agricultural pumps under the KUSUM scheme in Indapur are reportedly being targeted by callers impersonating Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) officials or wiremen. The callers allegedly seek one-time passwords (OTPs) on the pretext of completing application verification and then select solar companies without the applicants’ knowledge or consent, according to a report by Sakal – Pune published on October 14.
The reported fraud affects the company-selection stage of the solar agricultural pump application process. Applicants are allegedly told that the OTP is required for verification. Once the code is shared, a different solar company is selected on their behalf, the report said. Farmers have objected that the process prevents them from choosing a company of their preference and may leave them linked to companies they did not approve.
The report cited the case of Pradeep Abasaheb Gurgude, a farmer from Babhulgaon in Indapur taluka. Gurgude reportedly received a call made in the name of a company. A different company was subsequently selected without his consent, according to the account published by Sakal – Pune. Gurgude said he would complain to the senior office about the matter.
The alleged calls come as farmers remain occupied with agricultural work and may not be able to closely monitor the online status of their applications. The reported method uses access to the application process and the credibility associated with the electricity distribution company to obtain an OTP, making it difficult for applicants to know immediately whether a change has been made to their application.
The KUSUM solar agricultural pump scheme is intended to provide farmers with solar-powered pumping systems. In this case, the reported dispute is not about the broad objective of the scheme but about control over an important administrative step: the selection of the implementing or supplying company. If a company is selected without the applicant’s permission, the farmer may have to seek a correction from the administration before the application can proceed according to their preference.
Farmers quoted in the report have called for action against the companies and agents allegedly involved. They have also sought cancellation of selections made without their consent and an opportunity to choose a solar company themselves. These demands place responsibility on the implementing administration to maintain a verifiable record of consent and to provide a route for correcting unauthorised changes.
Sakal – Pune reported that an attempt was made to contact MSEDCL about the allegations, but the company’s response could not be obtained. The report did not state whether a police complaint or formal departmental investigation had been registered. The immediate next step identified by the affected farmer is a complaint to the senior MSEDCL office.
