Jagadanand Singh’s question on rice procurement irregularities in the Lok Sabha has apparently backfired on the RJD MP.

The MP’s two sons — Sudhakar and Ajit — who run rice mills in Kaimur district had certificate cases registered against them by the district authorities.

They were accused of not giving milled rice to the Bihar State Food Corporation (BSFC) in lieu of the procured paddy given to them.

Asked about his sons, Jagadanand said: “They are being punished for wrong reason. It is not the question of my sons only.”

One of the most senior and respected leaders of the RJD, Jagadanand alleged that there had been gross irregularities in purchase of paddy by the state government and that it was the middlemen and not the farmers who had benefited.

Jagadanand has also written two letters to chief minister Nitish Kumar alleging blatant corruption in procurement of rice and paddy.

Preferring anonymity, a senior officer in the Kaimur district magistrate’s office, said: “Both Sudhakar and Ajit were supposed to return rice worth over Rs 5 crore to Food Corporation of India (FCI) on behalf of the BSFC but failed to do so.”

Sudhakar owns two rice mills whereas Ajit owns one. “I have not done anything wrong and the FCI did not procure the rice at the right time which was against the rule. Rice mill owners have no storehouses,” said Sudhakar, also the Bihar State Rice Mill Association president.

Food and consumer protection minister Shyam Rajak said: “Certificate case is registered against any mill owner who breaks the rules. It has not been registered intentionally just because they are sons of an RJD MP.”