Huge quantity of PDS rice seized in raid

Representative file image. | Photo credit: The Hindu

Bengaluru

A three-day crackdown on black market syndicates diverting rice from the public distribution system across Karnataka resulted in the seizure of 564.99 tonnes of rice, estimated to be worth ₹1.34 crore.

The multi-agency management was taken over by the Food and Civil Supplies Department in coordination with the Commercial Taxes, Agricultural Marketing, Police and Excise Departments. As many as six criminal cases have been registered against nine persons under the Essential Commodities Act, 1981. Twenty transport vehicles worth ₹3.41 million were also seized in the operation.

A note from the office of Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad said the main highlight of the event was the unmasking of an international smuggling racket operating from rural Bengal. Officials intercepted a truck in Attebele, carrying 35,000 kg of rice in 700 sacks of the Food Corporation of India. It was reported that rice worth ₹11.63 lakh was packed under the trade name “WoW” with the tagline “Rice for Africa”.

Investigation revealed that Mandya-based Annapurneshwari Enterprises purchased rice from a local FCI godown and sold it to Madhya Pradesh-based Sailar Exports Ltd to be shipped from Chennai. The memo said this was in violation of the Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supply of Essential Commodities Act, 1981. It was found that the company had traded as much as 56,450 quintals of rice in the last two months against a legitimate record of purchase from FCI of 5,000 quintals.

In Belagavi’s Lokur village, officials seized 4.22 lakh kg of PDS rice worth ₹ 98.67 lakh, while three Maharashtra-bound trucks carrying 71,800 kg of PDS rice, which were repackaged in colorful branded bags, were seized. Another large consignment of rice weighing 35,391 kg was seized from an abandoned truck in Vijayapur, the note said.

Published – 10 Oct 2026 04:38 IST