Karnataka authorities have seized 5.65 lakh kg of rice meant for the Public Distribution System (PDS), valued at Rs 1.34 crore, along with 24 transport vehicles worth Rs 3.41 crore, during a three-day statewide crackdown on the illegal diversion of subsidised foodgrain, according to a PTI report.
Scale of the crackdown
The Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs said six criminal cases have been registered under the Essential Commodities Act, 1981, against nine people. The total value of the seized rice and vehicles is estimated at Rs 4.76 crore. The crackdown was carried out on the directions of Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad, with coordinated operations by officials of the food and civil supplies, commercial taxes and agricultural marketing departments along with police and excise departments.
The biggest seizures
The largest seizure was reported from Belagavi district, where officials raided Sri Banashankari Agro Processing Pvt Ltd at Lokur village in Kagwad taluk. They seized 4,22,800 kg of PDS rice worth Rs 98.67 lakh, impounded 19 trucks valued at Rs 2.66 crore and sealed the processing facility.
In another major operation, officials intercepted a truck carrying 35,000 kg of Food Corporation of India (FCI) rice at the Attibele checkpost in Bengaluru Rural district. The rice, valued at Rs 11.63 lakh, was allegedly packaged under the brand name "WoW" with the tagline "Rice for Africa" — pointing to an alleged attempt to divert subsidised grain for export. Investigators found that Mandya-based Annapurneshwari Enterprises had allegedly purchased the FCI rice, processed it at a mill and sold it to Madhya Pradesh-based Sailor Exports Limited for shipment to Africa through Chennai port. An FIR has been registered in the case.
Sources:
- Karnataka seizes 5.65 lakh kg of PDS rice worth Rs 1.34 cr in statewide crackdown — ThePrint (PTI)
Scale of the crackdown
The Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs said six criminal cases have been registered under the Essential Commodities Act, 1981, against nine people. The total value of the seized rice and vehicles is estimated at Rs 4.76 crore. The crackdown was carried out on the directions of Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad, with coordinated operations by officials of the food and civil supplies, commercial taxes and agricultural marketing departments along with police and excise departments.
The biggest seizures
The largest seizure was reported from Belagavi district, where officials raided Sri Banashankari Agro Processing Pvt Ltd at Lokur village in Kagwad taluk. They seized 4,22,800 kg of PDS rice worth Rs 98.67 lakh, impounded 19 trucks valued at Rs 2.66 crore and sealed the processing facility.
In another major operation, officials intercepted a truck carrying 35,000 kg of Food Corporation of India (FCI) rice at the Attibele checkpost in Bengaluru Rural district. The rice, valued at Rs 11.63 lakh, was allegedly packaged under the brand name "WoW" with the tagline "Rice for Africa" — pointing to an alleged attempt to divert subsidised grain for export. Investigators found that Mandya-based Annapurneshwari Enterprises had allegedly purchased the FCI rice, processed it at a mill and sold it to Madhya Pradesh-based Sailor Exports Limited for shipment to Africa through Chennai port. An FIR has been registered in the case.
Sources:
- Karnataka seizes 5.65 lakh kg of PDS rice worth Rs 1.34 cr in statewide crackdown — ThePrint (PTI)
