Mangalore: Lokayukta raid exposes major scam in Food and Civil Supplies Dept; 3 arrested

Mangalore: Lokayukta raid exposes major scam in Food and Civil Supplies Dept; 3 arrested

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Mar 2, 2013: The Lokayukta sleuths have unearthed a major scam in the Department of Food and Civil Supplies following a raid on the department office in Mangalore on the night of March 2, Saturday.

The Lokayukta team has also apprehended three officials of the department on the charges of diverting the food meant for distribution under PDS to flour mills in exchange for cash and poor quality rice and wheat which would be then distributed through fair price shops.

The  officials who were trapped are Muralidhar Rao, the District Manager of Food and Civil Supplies, Puttalingaaih, Godown Manager of Shaktinagar and Jeevandar Ajari, Manager of the Belthangady unit.

It is learnt, the private traders used to pay sufficient cash to the three for their favour and in turn provide poor quality rice and wheat. Puttalingaiah and Jeevandhar used to share some percentage of their earnings   with Muralidhar Rao.

It is learnt, the   Lokayukta raid   followed a tip off and the raiding team also seized a cash of Rs 44,000. The losses incurred by the department due to their fraudulent dealings is yet to be estimated. There is a suspicion that a similar racket was operative even in Sullia, Puttur and other places.

The three officials were produced before the court and were remanded to judicial custody for three days.

Mohandas, Lokayukta SP, Vittaldas Pai, DySP and other personnel were part of the raiding team.