Culprits Find New Ways To Divert PDS Rice

Hyderabad: The diversion of PDS rice into black markets continues to be a major headache for authorities, as culprits keep finding new loopholes to trick the system. Beyond the traditional method of procuring rice from beneficiaries, offenders are now tampering with the GPS tracking systems of PDS trucks, in collusion with the MLS (mandal level stock) point in‑charge and the district executive officer (DEO).

Around 400 quintals of rice were intercepted by Vigilance teams in the first week of this month before they could be sold in the black market. In a recent raid, the Telangana Vigilance Task Force intercepted a motorcycle carrying falsified truck chits and discovered that a lorry transporting 300 quintals of rice worth Rs 17.22 lakh was being diverted to the black market in Palvancha, Khammam district.

“The GPS tracker intended for the lorry had been fraudulently attached to a motorcycle to mislead the authorities,” vigilance officials said.

The lorry from which the GPS device was removed was later traced near Nakiripeta in Burgampahad mandal with a full load. This came after motorcyclist Prasanth, an assistant to Stage‑I contractor N. Srinivas (the primary accused), confessed to diverting the rice. Anil Kumar, the truck driver, admitted that he had halted the vehicle on the instructions of Narahari, another accused who owns a rice mill.

The MLS point in‑charge and the DEO were promised bribes of Rs 20,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively for each lorry. Other accomplices include eight fair‑price shop dealers. “While the biker would get Rs 10,000 for each lorry, the dealers would get Rs 25 for each kg of PDS rice. The contractor’s aide would falsify records, create fake receipts and facilitate the diversion. Contractor Srinivas, the main accused, confessed to previously diverting around five truckloads for profit,” Task Force officials said.

Meanwhile, vigilance and enforcement department sleuths conducted a surprise raid on December 15 at Tholla Basti, Shamshabad, and found that accused Md Intiyaz, 52, had stored 80 quintals of PDS rice collected from nearby colonies. “The seized PDS rice is worth Rs 3.2 lakh. The accused, along with the rice, was handed over to the police. The Civil Supplies Department has booked a case in this connection,” official sources said.