India

Rice diversion scam busted

Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

food security govt

Hyderabad: The Vigilance and Enforcement sleuths busted a public distribution system scam involving diversion of rice and other commodities.

The sleuths raided 65 mandal-level service (MLS) points and 260 fair price shops in 20 districts of Andhra Pradesh. Officials have booked 93 cases and have seized 4,142.25-quintal rice, 9,544-litre palm oil, 2,437-kg wheat and other items.

Vigilance officials said that PDS rice and other commodities like atta, sugar, palm oil, red gram, wheat, chilli powder, tamarind, turmeric and kerosene have been diverted from MLS points and fair price shops to rice mills and open markets.

There is a nexus between transport contractors and fair price shop dealers who divert the stocks and loot the public.

The two-day raids were conducted after the Vigilance department received complaints from various quarters.

“We have been receiving complaints regarding diversion of PDS rice and other commodities from MLS points and fair price shops either to rice mills or to their agents, or directly to the open market.

We conducted a special drive in the last two days,” said Amit Garg, Directorate General of Vigilance and Enforcement

The officials said that fair price shop dealers also take advantage of fake card holders. At times, genuine card holders do not get the rice and other commodities provided under the Amma Hastham Scheme.

Write A Comment