Rs 2.56 lakh worth of rice meant for Anna Bhagya scheme seized

UDUPI: Rice meant for the govt's Anna Bhagya scheme was seized near Maravanthe Beach in Kundapur taluk after officials found it was being illegally transported to Mandya.The complainant, Suresh H.S., Food Inspector, Kundapur, received reliable information on Friday that rice meant for the govt's Anna Bhagya scheme was being illegally transported in a lorry along National Highway 66 near the Maravanthe Beach crossroad in Trasi village.

Acting on the information, the complainant, along with Gangolli Police Station staff, rushed to the spot at around 10:50 a.m. on Friday and noticed a lorry approaching. When they stopped the vehicle, the driver attempted to flee but was caught with the help of the police. Upon questioning, he identified himself as Nanjunda.He revealed that Shafeeq Saheb from Bhatkal loaded 214 bags (a total of 107 quintals) of rice into his lorry and instructed him to deliver it to Sri Basaveshwara Agro Rice Industries, M.G. Road, Mandya. The total value of the seized rice is estimated at Rs 2.56 lakh. In this connection, a case was registered at the Gangolli Police Station under Sections 3, 6, and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act , against Nanjunda K.R. and Shafeeq Saheb.