Published Sep 16, 2022 | 1:26 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 16, 2022 | 1:29 PM
The police said that the accused confessed that he was purchasing the PDS rice from the card holders (beneficiaries of the welfare scheme). (Supplied)
The Hyderabad City Police on Thursday, 15 September, arrested a 21-yer-old man who was suspected to be illegally hoarding around 5,000 kg of rice meant for the public distribution system (PDS).
The police identified the suspect as Maddela Ashok, a native of the Ananthapuramu district of Andhra Pradesh.
The police seized 50 packets — each weighing 40-50 kgs — along with two weighing machines from the accused.
This comes after the Zaheerabad police on Wednesday, 7 September seized 120 tonnes (1.20 lakh kg) of PDS rice in the Sangareddy district and arrested as many as seven lorry drivers on charges of smuggling.
The police in Mangalhat received a tip-off for illegal possession of rice in bulk at Raheem Pura in Hyderabad.
They then conducted a joint raid at the location with the civil supplies anti-smuggling squad.
“The accused confessed that he was purchasing PDS rice from card-holders (beneficiaries of the welfare scheme),” said the police.
The cops added that the accused used to procure rice packets at the rate of ₹12 per kg and sell them for ₹25 per kg, having hoarded them.
The police booked the accused under IPC Section 420 (dishonesty and cheating) and Section 7 of the 1955 Essential Commodities Act (offence related to procuring of foodstuff).
Punishment under Section 7 of the ECA Act can be imprisonment for no more than six months.
“The police will give a notice to court seeking the custody of the accused,” a senior police officer at the Mangalhat Police Station told South First.
