PDS rice misappropriation at Bantwal: KFCSC higher officials inspect warehouse

Mangaluru/Bantwal: Officials of the Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Corporation conducted an inspection on Monday, following the disappearance of rice worth Rs 1.32 crores from a warehouse at BC Road in Bantwal.

KFCSC General Manager Prasanna Kumar V K, managers Ismail, and Anuradha, along with police conducted a site inspection.

Following the inspection, Prasanna Kumar told “Udyavani”, that the missing rice was meant for Anna Bhagya beneficiaries.  An FIR has already been registered regarding the case. During the inspection, it was confirmed that there is a discrepancy between the amount of rice received and the rice available in the inventory. As much as 3892.5 quintals of rice has been misappropriated. The police department is already investigating this, he said.

Further, he said that the junior assistant in charge of the warehouse, Vijay, has been arrested. It will also be investigated whether anyone else was involved. A separate committee will be formed by the corporation for the investigation. The police have also been asked to form a separate team, he added.

The matter came to light after ration shop owners approached the tehsildar about rice not being supplied for the Anna Bhagya scheme. The revenue inspector (RI), dispatched by the tehsildar to look into the matter, discovered the discrepancy at the warehouse on August 14, Prasanna Kumar said.

The managing director of the corporation and the departmental minister have also taken the case seriously, he said, and added that strict action will be taken against whoever is involved in the pilferage.