Crime Branch on alert over PDS irregularities

In Panchmahals,supply officials sought the help of the SOG to seize kerosene from Fair Price Shop owners in Godhra. SOG Inspector M D Jadhav told The Indian Express that the group was on alert since the bogus ration card scam started in Godhra.

“We have instructions to raid any illegal pilferers of essential commodities. However,most of the raids happen in the presence of local supply office people. We are on alert especially after bogus ration cards were seized from the district,” Jadhav said.

Last week,Jadhav and his men arrested Akram Patel,a municipal councillor from Godhra,with eight barrels of white kerosene from near Polan Bazar. “The accused was filling up a diesel truck with kerosene meant for the PDS,which he would have covered up with the bogus ration cards. We seized eight barrels of kerosene from the accused,” said Jadhav.

Local police could not be used since the accused and three others,who were arrested under Essential Supply Management Act and forgery,had considerable influence in the area.

DSO officials from Godhra said the SOG’s help would be sought in more cases.

In Vadodara,the local Crime Branch and SOG sleuths conducted raids in the past week. LCB police inspector J N Panchal seized Rs 2,61,000 worth of wheat from a truck. The wheat was headed to the black market.

LCB officials found that one Padra-based trader,Raju Shah,was allegedly hoarding the wheat supplies that came from Amreli. SOG officials also arrested two more traders from Padra — Jitin Shah and Kamlesh Shah — brothers of Raju Shah,from another shop where the accused had hoarded wheat meant for fair price shops.

On Monday night,the LCB arrested three persons from Dabhoi town hoarding 25,670 kg molasses meant for fair price shops across the district. The estimated value of the molasses is Rs 6,16,080.