Telangana officials detect Rs 2,200 crore paddy diversion
Vigilance raids on nearly 300 rice mills across 26 districts uncovered a shortfall of 8.73 lakh metric tonnes of paddy.
The Telangana vigilance and enforcement department has identified the diversion of 8.73 lakh metric tonnes of paddy valued at Rs 2,200 crore, according to reports by Urban Acres and Deccan Chronicle. The shortfall involves stocks intended for government auctions and custom milling rice (CMR).
Since mid-July, authorities conducted raids on almost 300 rice mills across 26 districts. Officials stated that Rs 1,500 crore has been recovered from millers to address the deficit, and 25 people, primarily rice millers, have been arrested.
Suryapet recorded the largest value of diverted stocks at Rs 430 crore, followed by Nizamabad at Rs 245 crore and Nirmal at Rs 230 crore. In these areas, officials alleged that millers illegally sold paddy stocks allocated to them.
The investigation into the CMR system and auction bidding shortages also highlighted monitoring failures within the civil supplies department. A senior official told Deccan Chronicle that a deficit of Rs 2,200 crore was found and Rs 1,500 crore was recovered.
Separate inspections in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts between October 29 and 31 targeted retail and wholesale traders over concerns of price manipulation. The civil supplies department, Enforcement Task Force (ETF), and legal metrology department found instances of hoarding and rice bags labelled incorrectly.
Legal action was initiated against 18 trading establishments, with 11 first information reports (FIRs) registered at Saroornagar, Jeedimetla, and Alwal police stations. The accused face prosecution under the Essential Commodities Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).