3 held in ration diversion racket in Maharashtra; corporator's kin among two wanted

CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: The city crime branch has busted an alleged public distribution system (PDS) grain diversion racket, arresting three people and launching a manhunt for two others, including a political party office-bearer related to a sitting corporator, the officials said on Sunday.

The accused have been remanded in four-day police custody.In two separate operations under the Jinsi police station limits, officials seized ration grain, nutritional food material and vehicles collectively worth over Rs 17 lakh.The arrested men have been identified as Sameer Babar Qureshi (Chikalthana), Fahad Laeek Shuttari (Kiradpura) and Fardin Gani Pathan (Chikalthana)."The action is part of a wider crackdown on diversion and black marketing of govt-supplied essentials," police commissioner Pravin Pawar said.Acting on a tip-off, a crime branch team led by inspector Gajanan Kalyankar raided a godown near MR Function Hall in Kiradpura on Saturday, where large stocks of ration grain meant for PDS beneficiaries were allegedly stored for illegal sale.The police registered a case under sections 3 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, sections 4 and 27 of the Petroleum Act, and section 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, seizing goods and a vehicle worth Rs 15.8 lakh.

During further investigation, officials uncovered another diversion involving nutritional food packets meant for children aged six months to three years and pregnant and lactating women under a govt welfare scheme.The packets had allegedly been opened and contents such as fortified rice and nutrition mix diverted for black market sale.Following a complaint by the women and child development department, a separate case was registered under the Essential Commodities Act and relevant sections of the BNS.

Food material worth Rs 1.31 lakh was seized."The accused were allegedly involved in storing and transporting ration grain and nutrition supplies for illegal sale. Further investigation is underway to trace the absconding accused and identify the wider network involved," Kalyankar said.Commissioner Pawar said the crackdown would continue, warning of strict action against those siphoning off welfare supplies meant for the poor.