Police have booked 16 rice millers and 12 Government officials and employees over irregularities in 1.87 lakh quintals paddy transportation amounting to Rs 43.02 crore in the district. Acting on the directives of Collector Deepak Saxena, an FIR has been lodged at the Crime Branch Police Station against 16 rice millers and 12 Government officials and employees for alleged irregularities in transportation of paddy. Besides this, investigations are underway against 27 other rice millers suspected of similar misconduct.

 

The action follows an inquiry conducted by Sub-Divisional Revenue officers into multiple complaints of malpractice in paddy transportation. The probe revealed that 43 rice millers were involved in misappropriation of approximately 1,87,000 quintals of paddy worth Rs 43.02 crore. Based on a written report submitted by Junior Supply Officer Neelam Upadhyay, Crime Branch Station In-Charge Shailesh Mishra registered a case against 16 rice millers, District Manager Dilip Kirar and four computer operators under charges of fraud and other sections of the IPC. Accused rice millers have been identified as Maa Narmada Agrofoods,

 

Panagar, Trigun Agrofoods, Sihora, Auria, Panagar, Jainam Foods, Shahpura, Hansvani & Sons, Pariyat, Maa Narmada Agro, Umaria Dumaria, Maa Bhagatvani Industries, Subhidi Rice Mills, Sihora, Chinmay Sagar, Bhopal Road Shahpura, Chhabi Industries, Aadhar Taal, Jai Bhagwan Foods Products, Sihora, Shivay Rice Mills, Sihora, Sanchi Foods, Richhai, Vaishvani, Majholi and Ayushi Agro, Pahadikheda Similarly, accused officers and staff members identified as Dilip Kirar (District Manager), Sunil Prajapati (Operator), Ramkishore Baiga (Mandi In-charge), Operators include Sandeep Deshmukh, Ramendra Sharma, Sumeet Kori, Govind Awasthi, Dharmendra Singh Chandaul, Saurabh Shukla, BS Mehra, Vikram Singh Yadav and others. The investigation revealed that many of the vehicle numbers listed for paddy transportation belonged to private cars, tractors and other unrelated vehicles, indicating deliberate manipulation and fraud. Authorit ies stated that strict legal action will follow upon further verification and assessment of the irregularities.