MCOCA invoked against ration grain diversion gang in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The police have invoked the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against an alleged gang accused of siphoning off PDS ration grain and nutrition supplies meant for children and pregnant women, with the suspected kingpin and three others still absconding.The MCOCA sections were added to two FIRs registered on June 14 at the Jinsi police station after investigators established that an organised criminal network was diverting govt welfare supplies for black market sale.While three arrested accused men — Sameer Babar Qureshi, Fahad Laeek Shuttari and Fardin Gani Pathan — are in judicial custody, the alleged gang leader and other members remain at large.Police commissioner Pravin Pawar said, “The accused were running a structured criminal enterprise targeting welfare supplies meant for the poor and for small children.

MCOCA will ensure that such organised offenders face appropriate punishment.”The case stems from crime branch raids conducted on June 12 and 13 at a godown near MR Function Hall in Rahimaniya Colony, Kiradpura, where the police found a large stock of govt ration grain allegedly stored for illegal sale. A case was registered 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.

Grain stock and a vehicle worth Rs 15.75 lakh were seized.During the probe, the police uncovered a second diversion involving fortified rice and nutrition mix meant for children aged six months to three years and pregnant and lactating women. Food material worth Rs 1.3 lakh was seized, taking the total recovery in both cases to over Rs 17 lakh.ACP (crime) Ashok Rajput said, “The network was systematically looting welfare supplies. All absconding accused will be traced and arrested,” adding that MCOCA sanction was granted on June 26 after establishing a pattern of organised crime.