Red Leaf Herbal's Managing Director Thyagarajan refutes claims of cheating farmers in Tiruppur, Karur, and Dindigul districts over the purchase of Sengaanthal flower seeds, stating all payments are made through bank transfers.
Coimbatore: Red Leaf Herbal, a private company, has denied allegations of defrauding farmers over the purchase of eye pain seeds. The company's Managing Director Thyagarajan addressed the issue in an interview, refuting the claims made against the organization.
Red Leaf Herbal, based in Dharapuram, Tiruppur district, has been purchasing eye pain seeds (also known as Sengaanthal flower seeds) from farmers in various areas including Moolanur, Karaipatti, Kallimandayam, Neelaangaali Valasu, Karaivalasu, Porulur, Puliyampatti, Thamarapatti, Keeranur, and Markampatti across Tiruppur, Karur, and Dindigul districts. The company has been paying farmers Rs. 3,200 per kilogram through bank transfers on a rotational basis.
However, on August 16, two individuals named Suresh Kumar and Rajarathnam from Kallimandayam filed a complaint with the District Collector and police against Red Leaf Herbal's Managing Director Thyagarajan. They alleged that the company had purchased eye pain seeds from farmers in the Oddanchatram area, promising to pay Rs. 200 more per kilogram than other companies, setting the price at Rs. 3,200 per kg. The complainants claimed that the company only paid some farmers through bank transfers, and that too, a lesser amount than agreed upon, leaving several crores of rupees unpaid to many farmers.
Thyagarajan strongly denied these allegations, stating that the complaint is entirely false. He clarified that Red Leaf Herbal had not purchased any eye pain seeds from Suresh Kumar and Rajarathnam, and there had been no financial transactions between the company and these individuals.
The Managing Director further explained that the complaint falsely claimed Red Leaf Herbal had purchased 1,786 kilograms of eye pain seeds. He accused Suresh Kumar and Rajarathnam of spreading defamatory information, alleging that the company had paid only half the amount due and was using strongarm tactics to intimidate farmers. Thyagarajan also denied claims of freezing farmers' bank accounts.
Red Leaf Herbal is considering taking criminal action against Suresh Kumar and Rajarathnam for damaging the company's reputation. Thyagarajan assured that farmers who have sold eye pain seeds to Red Leaf need not worry, as payments are being made to everyone through bank transfers on a rotational basis.
In a separate meeting held at a private venue in Moolanur, Red Leaf employees and farmers gathered to discuss the issue. A farmer named Sivakumar, who has been cultivating eye pain seeds for 30 years, voiced his support for the company. He stated that he has been selling his produce to Red Leaf for the past 15 years and receiving payments through the rotational system. Sivakumar, along with over 50 other farmers present at the meeting, affirmed that Red Leaf has never cheated any farmer.
Sivakumar also accused Suresh Kumar and Rajarathnam of spreading false information to tarnish Red Leaf's reputation, suggesting that they might be working for the benefit of other companies. He urged farmers not to believe the fake documents and information being circulated on social media platforms.