The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has unearthed a big scam amounting to Rs 1.55 crore by raiding at a warehouse and seized 2 trucks laden with 1138 bags of rice. In this case the VB has arrested Gopal Goyal owner Shiv Shakti Rice Mill, Garshankar, Hoshiarpur district along with two truck drivers Jagpal Singh and Sukhwinder Singh.
While giving information here today, the spokesperson of the VB informed that in this regard a case against the owner of Jai Janeder Firm Contractor Harish Dalal, Owner of Shiv Shakti Rice Mill Garhshankar, Hoshiarpur Gopal Goyal, owner of Anjani Rice Mill Kuttiwal Kalan, Maur mandi, Bathinda, truck drivers Jagpal Singh and Sukhwinder Singh have been registered under prevention of corruption act at VB police station Bathinda range. He added that the role of officials/employees/custodians of Global Warehouse besides concerned officials/employees of Food Corporation of India would be considered during the future investigation.
He informed that under the Bharat Brand Scheme, being run by the Government of India, about 70,000 metric tonnes of rice was being distributed by the National Cooperative Consumer Federation of India in Bathinda, Bhucho, Maur, Rampura Phul and Budhlada to the poor families costing about Rs 130 crore. Out of which, about 1000 metric tons of rice has to be distributed at a cost of Rs. 18.50 per kg, after filling it in bags weighing 5 kg and 10 kg. The tender for supplying this rice to the beneficiaries at a rate of Rs.29 per kg in Bathinda district, was awarded to Jai Janedar firm.
He further revealed that the VB received information from a reliable source that an attempt was being made to embezzle the rice for beneficiaries worth Rs. 3.40 crore. Acting on the information, the VB team has confiscated 2 trucks loaded with 1138 bags of rice which were to be sent to Hamjapur in Fathiabad but the tenderer firm has not cleaned the rice and not filled it in the bags as mandated with a motive to usurp the rice by further selling it directly to the rice sellers.
During the probe it was also found that the above said firm wants to embezzle the government stock meant for the poor people by selling it at an expensive price of Rs 34 per kg.
The spokesperson further informed that the owners of Jai Janedar Firm has procured rice from Global Warehouse (Soma Warehouse), Maur Mandi in conniving with the officers/employees/custodian of this warehouse through a broker named Harish Kumar and unknown officials of Food Corporation of India. After paying the bribe the rice bags were shifted to Anjani Rice Mill, Kuttiwal Kalan, Maur Mandi, and after this the rice bags were to be taken to Shiv Shakti Rice Mill, Garhshankar District, Hoshiarpur through these trucks. In this regard case has been registered against all the above mentioned accused and owners of said firms and further investigations are underway, he said.