Civil Supplies officials seize 71 tonnes PDS rice near Katpadi

A total of 1,420 bags of PDS rice were seized from two lorries.

A team led by Vellore Supply Officer of the Department of Civil Supplies seized around 71 tonnes of rice meant for supply under the Public Distribution System (PDS) from two lorries at Melpadi village near Katpadi in Vellore on Sunday.

The police identified the drivers of the seized lorries as D. Ramachandran, 52, a native of Walajah in Ranipet, and S. Thangamani, 48, a resident of Kalavai in Ranipet.

Initial inquiry revealed that based on orders of Collector P.S. Leela Alex, a six-member team comprising S. Thilaka, Inspector, CSCID (Vellore), sub-inspector V. Karthi and head constables V. Nepoalean, P. Mahalingam, R. Jothi Murugan and R. Parthiban was formed to prevent PDS rice smuggling in the area.

During a surprise check in Katpadi, Ponnai and Tiruvalam area, the team stopped two lorries on Ponnai–Tiruvalam High Road near Melpadi village. When asked about the purpose of the visit and consignment in the vehicles, the two lorry drivers gave contradictory answers.

Police said the team checked the consignment and found several bags of PDS rice. A total of 1,420 bags of PDS rice were seized from two lorries. Investigations found that the consignment was proceeding to Chennai Port from Bangarapet, on the outskirts of Bengaluru, from a private rice mill where the PDS rice had been loaded for shipment.

Police said that such PDS rice is collected from surrounding villages in Bengaluru and Hosur before the smuggled rice is polished for export as high variety rice. A case was registered under Tamil Nadu Scheduled Commodities (Regulation of Distribution by Card System) Order, 1982, and Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

Seized PDS rice was sent to godown maintained by the Department of Civil Supplies at Katpadi. Later, the arrested lorry drivers were lodged at Central prison in Vellore.