Three arrested over attempt to divert PDS rice to black market

Praveen Kumar | NT

Around 61 bags of rice worth about Rs3.9 lakhs meant for fair price shops and Below Poverty Line (BPL) card holders were about to find their way to the black market.

However, police played spoilsport by arresting three persons for trying to pilfer rice meant for the public distribution system (PDS). The accused admitted that they were trying to sell the rice on the black market.

They were acting at the behest of the owner of a rice godown. The men were burning the gunny bags in which the rice was supplied after shifting them to plastic bags. The police also summoned the jurisdictional Food Inspector. The stolen rice weighing around 2,000 kg was seized along with three vehicles that were being used.

This happened near Silk Farm on the Bengaluru-Channapatna Road. Cops identified the arrested as Kalli Suleman, 38, Fareed Khan, 30, both natives of Malavalli in Mandya and Sheikh Bilal, 30, of Channapatna. Saifullah, who is also from Channapatna is another accussed and is yet to be nabbed. The three were arrested near the entrance of Royal Elegant layout close to the Silk Farm on Saturday between 2 pm and 2.15 pm.

“Our informant tipped us about the suspicious movement of the suspects who were shifting rice bags from two vans to a bigger luggage vehicle. The police team which rushed to the spot found the accused shifting rice bags inside the luggage vehicles. After they were asked for documentation, they claimed to be working on the best of Saifulla,” cops said.