Rice diversion scam exposed, charge sheet filed against senior FCS&CA officials: Crime Branch Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 09: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch J&K has filed a chargesheet against three senior officers of the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department after exposing a rice diversion scam, officials said on Tuesday.

In a statement, an EOW spokesperson said that the chargesheet has been submitted in case FIR No. 07/2020 under Sections 409, 420, and 120-B RPC before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Sopore. The accused have been identified as Siraj-ud-Din Bhat (then TSO PEG Baramulla), S/o Mohd Sideeq Bhat, R/o Waripora Safapora, Ganderbal; Mohd Hussain Bhat (then TSO/Storekeeper Hygam Granary), S/o Abdul Rahim Bhat, R/o Kichloo, Qazipora Handwara; and Mohammad Shafi Rather @ Shafi Kanda (then TSO Hygam Granary), S/o Mohd Sultan Rather, R/o Wanigam, Pattan.

He said the case originated from a communication received from the Directorate of FCS&CA, indicating suspected misappropriation of rice from the Hygam and Baramulla (Centre D) granaries. Acting upon these inputs, a probe was initiated, and the SSP Crime Branch Kashmir ordered a Joint Surprise Check (JSC) to verify the authenticity of dispatches and receipts of food grain consignments.

The JSC uncovered glaring discrepancies. Seven truckloads of rice were shown as dispatched from PEG (Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee Scheme) Baramulla under the supervision of FCI officials and the TSO PEG Baramulla. The challans falsely recorded these consignments as received at Hygam Granary and subsequently distributed to sale centres at Wagoora, Nowpora, Kathigan Jathiar, Kalantra, and Dandmoh. However, all these sale centres categorically denied receiving any such stocks, and their official records corroborated this denial.

Further investigation revealed that the challans had been fraudulently procured by Assistant Storekeeper Palhallan Pattan, Mohammad Shafi Rather, from Siraj-ud-Din Bhat, and subsequently managed through TSO Hygam, Mohd Hussain Bhat.
The investigation established that the accused officers, in criminal conspiracy with each other and with certain officials of FCI Baramulla, misappropriated a large quantity of rice, causing a substantial pecuniary loss to the state exchequer.

Based on extensive oral and documentary evidence, the offences against the accused stand substantiated. Consequently, the charge-sheet under Section 173 Cr.PC has been submitted before the competent court for judicial determination.