The CBI launched ‘Operation Kanak’ in high level corruption alleged in the Food Corporation of India (FCI) conducted raids at 39 places in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi and recovered amount worth Rs 1.03 crore from senior officers involved in embezzlements in various godowns. According to a CBI spokesman, an network of employees from junior to senior level were found involved in corrupt practices. Sometime ago embezzlements in dispatch of rice and wheat stocks of value worth crores of rupees for supply to below poverty line (BPL) families under government schemes sent to Gujarat and other states in the country were detected when a three members committee was sent to Gujarat which found that stocks were taken out from the bags before dispatches and corrupt employees even didn’t spare poor families.
The CBI booked a total of 74 accused and registered FIRs against them including a DGM ranks officer from Chandigarh was arrested. Among others booked by CBI teams included FCI Executive Director Sudeep Singh and other suspects in the syndicate of officials, rice mill owners and middlemen involved in embezzlements. Among others allegedly indulged in corrupt practices by CBI sharing money were Deputy General Manager of FCI Rajiv Kumar Mishra who was arrested for receiving a bribe of Rs 50,000 from one Ravinder Singh Khera, the CBI said that few other senior officers of Punjab Government are also on CBI radar. Information reveals that among the 74 alleged accused, 34 are serving officials, three are retired, 17 private persons and 20 entities. Information also reveals that the agency recovered Rs 80 lakh cash during investigation including Rs 10 lakh from a female officer found currency notes hidden in the washing machine in her bath room during search.
According to information, CBI teams conducted raids in FCI godowns in six states which included at Rupnagar, Sangrur, Morinda, Bassi Pathana, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mohali, Sunam, Bhatinda in Punjab, Dukheri (Ambala), Gurugram in Haryana, Kolar, Chikbalpur in Karnatka, Chinnai in Tamilnadu, Chandigarh and New Delhi and also recovered Fixed Deposit documents of value worth Rs three crore in raids found a chain of officers, lower staff working in godowns, rice mill owners, grain merchants, brokers engaged in procurements, all involved in nexus of corruption. According to CBI information, it was alleged that alleged accuse used to accept bribe from rice millers, commission agents getting sub-standard grains, at times showing more procurement on papers that actual supplies while accepting bribe. Investigation also revealed that amount worth Rs 4000 was being collected from every truck carrying stocks in godowns allegedly being shared by the General Manager, Deputy General Manager, AGM, Research officer in lab, Storekeeper, Headquarter expenses and towards other miscellaneous expenses.
