Hyderabad: A rice miller in Jagtial was booked under provisions of the Preventive Detention (PD) Act on Monday for illegally diverting rice from the public distribution system (PDS) to other states. Last year, four rice traders were booked under PD Act; it is for the first time that the owner of a rice mill has been booked.
Konda Lakshman, the owner of Hanuman Sai Traders, was found to have been involved in the illegal diversion of PDS rice for the past 15 years. He would collect rice under the ration quota and supply it to the State Government as well as other states. Eight criminal cases have been registered against him.
In keeping with directions issued by C.V. Anand, the Commissioner of Civil Supplies, the vigilance team of the Department kept watch on Lakshman’s movements to establish his involvement in irregularities. They handed over the details of the criminal cases details to A. Sharath, the Collector of Jagityal, who booked a case against him under the PD Act.
Lakshman operates benami rice mills in Jagityal, Rayakallu, Korutla, and Latipelly.
