‘Loss of Rs 949,710 to the public exchequer’
Srinagar: Crime Branch Kashmir on Friday said that it has raided the food granaries in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district and the enquiry revealed that seven truckloads (633 Quintals) of rice have been misappropriated, leading to a loss of Rs 949,710 to the public exchequer.
“Consequent upon the reception of a written communication from the Directorate of Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs wherein it was communicated that there are inputs about misappropriation of food grain stock at Hygam granary and, Baramulla –D circle; Crime Branch Kashmir and Directorate of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs conducted a joint surprise check of the above mentioned granary and offices,” a senior officer of the crime branch told GNS.
“During the joint surprise check dispatch records pertaining to TSO PEG Baramulla, TSO Hygam, TSO Baramulla-D circle offices were examined”.
Prima facie, among other things, it was revealed that 07 truckloads of rice have been shown dispatched from Private Enterprise Go-down (PEG) Baramulla and received by TSO Hygam, the officer said.
“Further enquiry revealed that only the challans pertaining to the transfer of grains have been prepared and no such transfer took place. In this way 633 Quintals of rice have been misappropriated, leading to a loss of Rs 949,710 to the public exchequer,” he said.
“Prima facie the involvement of the officials has surfaced includeTSO PEG Baramulla Sirajudin Bhat, TSO Hygam granary Mohammad Hussain Bhat, Assistant Director FCS&CA Baramulla Mushtaq Ahmad Wani”. Pertinently, this racket was being actively coordinated by Mohammad Sultan Wani Assistant Store Keeper, Palhalan Pattan, the officer said.
Further enquiry into the matter has been taken up, he added.
As reported earlier by GNS, 7 trucks loaded with rice were dispatched from peg Baramulla to Hygam granary in the month of December last year.
Accordingly on 31 December, 2019 the challan was made by the officials at Hygam and the same trucks were dispatched to ‘Baramulla D Circle’. However, sources said, the authorities at Baramulla D circle denied to have received the trucks loads with the rice.
Besides, these 7 trucks, four more trucks loaded with rice were said to have been sold by the officials of Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs against fake challans etc. (GNS)
