3,985 quintals of rice seized in joint raid in Gurmitkal

In a joint raid, officers recently seized 3,985 quintals of rice meant for government schemes stored illegally in two rice mills in Gurmitkal.

The officers from various departments carried out the joint raid on the two rice mills located on the outskirts of the town under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner Harshal Bhoyar. The seized rice was meant to be sold under different brand names after polishing.

The weight of the seized rice, rice powder and crushed rice was measured at 3,985 quintals and its value put at ₹1.21 crore, according to officers.

A case was registered on Monday in this connection against four individuals, including two women, in the Gurmitkal Police Station under Sections 3 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act 1955, Sections 61(2), 318(2) and 316(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita 2023, Sections 3, 4, 12, 18 and 19 of the Karnataka Essential Commodities (Public Distribution System) Public Control Order 2016 and Sections 3(2)(i), 4,6 and 8 of the Karnataka Essential Commodities (Storage Accounts Maintaining Value Notification).

An FIR has named Narendra Rathod, Ayyappa Rathod, Chandrika and Laxmi Bai Rathod as accused in the case. No one from both the rice mills was present while the raid was carried out.

According to the FIR, which quoted complainants Deputy Director of Food and Civil Supplies Anilkumar Davalagi and Food Inspector Saibanna Umaragi as saying, the officers from Food and Civil Supplies, Revenue, Home, Pollution Control Board, Commercial Tax, Food Safety and Drug Administration carried out the raid on Sri Laxmi Venkateshwar Rice Industries and Sri Laxmi Balaji Rice Industries on the direction of the Deputy Commissioner who received credible information.

They seized the rice, rice powder and crushed rice of 3,985 quintals and valued at ₹1,21,13,502. The complaint said that the team also seized two lorries valued at ₹45 lakh after the officers found prima facie that the rice was meant for government schemes but was stored illegally after getting it from the black market for polishing and sales.

Mr. Bhoyar and Superintendent of Police Pruthvik Shankar also visited the spot for inspection.

The police have launched a search operation to arrest the accused.