The Gujarat Police's State Monitoring Cell (SMC) has seized government-supplied foodgrains worth Rs 30.35 lakh that were allegedly diverted from the public distribution system, during raids at two locations in Junagadh district, police said on Monday. Six people were arrested in the operation and 15 others have been named as wanted accused.

Source: IANS via hi INDiA

The raids were carried out at Bilkha and Bantwa towns following inputs that fair price shop owners and dealers were allegedly diverting foodgrains meant for economically weaker sections, including people living below the poverty line. Acting on the instructions of Director General of Police G.S. Malik, an SMC team led by Inspector A.Y. Baloch raided a house occupied by Imtiyaz Chauhan near the railway crossing at Nagarechawadi, Street No. 3, in Bilkha, and a house and godown occupied by Deepak alias Dipu Hemnani at Lake Street No. 8 in Bantwa.

What was seized

Police said they recovered wheat, rice, tur dal, bajra and gram, along with soybean and other foodgrains, collectively valued at Rs 30.35 lakh. The seizure also included four vehicles worth Rs 11.35 lakh, seven mobile phones valued at Rs 51,000, four electronic weighing scales worth Rs 8,000, cash of Rs 2,500 and a rough bill book, taking the total value of the seized property to Rs 42.32 lakh.

Cases registered

The six arrested accused include Imtiyaz Chauhan and Mustaqbhai Chauhan from Bilkha, and Rajkumar alias Bablo Ahuja, Sunilkumar Pahlajani, Kiran Solanki and Vejabhai Akhiya from Bantwa, police said. The wanted accused include Amin Chotaliya, Firoz Malaviya and Irfan Kalvatar, besides Deepak Hemnani. All of the allegations are yet to be tested in court. Two separate offences have been registered at Bilkha and Bantwa police stations under Sections 3 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act and Sections 3(5), 61(2) and 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and police said further investigation is underway.

Source: Nation Press