Hello,

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In a twist of irony, Prem Chand Garg—a rice trader dogged by decades of legal woes—has emerged as a key partner in India’s rice export promotion efforts. Accused in multiple high-profile cases, including a Rs 979 crore bank fraud conspiracy by the CBI, illegal gold smuggling evading Rs 17 crore in duties, and a seven-year conviction for exporting illegally mined iron ore worth Rs 2,500 crore, Garg faces ongoing probes in India and Nigeria for a $4.2 million fraud. Despite these sub-judice matters, which he claims exoneration in most, Garg leads the Indian Rice Exporters’ Federation (IREF), a non-profit he founded in August 2023.

The Commerce Ministry, under Piyush Goyal, has partnered with the IREF to co-host the Bharat International Rice Conference on October 30-31, 2025, in Delhi, set to draw 1,000 foreign delegates and inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi. Goyal hails the event as shaping rice trade for the next five years. IREF, described by the ministry as a national apex body for exporters, millers, and stakeholders, will represent India’s rice sector globally. Additionally, Garg serves on the board of the government’s Non-Basmati Rice Development Fund, where amended rules now mandate private traders to register exports and pay fees per tonne.

Corporate filings reveal IREF’s shares are held by six companies tied to Garg’s family and former associates, including sons Aditya and Devashish’s firms, Vi Exports and Vi Farm Organics. Aditya’s Vi Exports, launched in 2020, has rapidly expanded into rice shipping via Singapore entities, claiming to have handled thousands of tonnes amid the family’s rising influence. While legally distinct, these ties raise questions about potential synergies.

Garg dismissed the scrutiny as “anti-national” threats aimed at defaming the federation pre-conference, denying undue gains. Aditya Garg echoed separations from his father’s role. The Commerce Ministry did not respond to queries. As India eyes rice export dominance, Garg’s ascent underscores the blurred lines between past scandals and present power.
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Warm regards,
Nitin Sethi
Editor
The Reporters' Collective

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Alleged scamster becomes Modi government’s ambassador for rice trade

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