Food worth Rs 10 lakh meant for school kids seized; one held

THANE: One person has been arrested here for allegedly diverting in open market a food consignment worth Rs 10 lakhs meant for distribution among school children, while ten others involved in the malpractice are on the run, police said today.

According to PI G S Ghambire of Rabodi police station, the grain stock was seized from a truck yesterday near Viviana Mall here by officials of Rationing department following which a complaint was lodged by Rationing Officer Pradeep Gaikwad, and driver Sonu Dayaram Pal was arrested.

The seizure was to the tune of around Rs 10 lakh which included foodgrains (wheat) worth Rs 2 lakh. Also, empty jute bags with 'National Food Security Scheme' printed on it were seized from the truck, the police officer said.

The stock was meant for supply towards students' meal under the National Food Security Scheme, he said.

Police was on a look out for a trader who purchased the stock and for the entire managing committee of the Grain Dealers Association.

The names of the other absconding accused were given as: Sanjay (loader), Shivaji (the person who instructed the transfer of the consignment), Mohamad (helping hand), Lakhan Patel (the person who purchased the controlled grains in black market), Mohamad Ishaq Shaikh (a tempo driver). Also, booked are all office bearers of the Om Sai Grain Dealers Association.

The accused have been charged under sections 3,7,8 and 10 of Essential Commodities Act, 1955, sections 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 21 and 23 of the Maharashtra Food Grain Rationing (II) Order, 1966; Sections 10,18 (A) of the Maharashtra Foodgrain Rationing (II); Rationing Regulation Act 1966, provisions of Food Security Bill, and also under provisions of Co-operative Institutions, Public Distribution Control Order and Bombay Rationing Area Scheduled Commodities Regulation of Distribution Order, police said.