Karnataka authorities have seized nearly 565 tonnes of subsidised rice intended for public distribution, valued at Rs 1.34 crore, during a three-day statewide crackdown targeting an alleged network that diverted Food Corporation of India grain for illegal export to Africa via the Chennai port. The state government announced the developments on Friday, noting that six criminal cases have been registered under the Essential Commodities Act of 1981, with nine individuals booked. The operation also triggered disciplinary actions against two government officials accused of failing to act against an illicit public distribution system rice storage facility operated by Ravi Traders in Bastawad village, located in the Belagavi district.
Aside from 5,64,992 kilograms of rice, the department of food, civil supplies and consumer affairs confiscated 24 vehicles worth Rs 3.41 crore, bringing the total estimated value of seized property to Rs 4.75 crore. Carried out under the direction of food and civil supplies minister Rizwan Arshad, the multi-agency operation involved the commercial tax department, agricultural marketing department, Karnataka state police, and the Karnataka state excise department.
Authorities initiated a key interception at the Attibele checkpost in Bengaluru Rural district, where they stopped a truck carrying 35,000 kilograms of rice packed in bags branded with the tagline βRice for Africa.β Investigators valued this consignment at Rs 11.63 lakh and determined the grain had been originally procured through the public distribution system. Preliminary findings revealed that Mandya-based Annapurneshwari Enterprises had acquired the grain, subjected it to light polishing at a mill, and supplied it to Madhya Pradesh-based Sailor Exports Limited for alleged illegal transport to Chennai port and subsequent export.
Department officials uncovered a major discrepancy after analyzing the volume of grain traded against official procurement records. Suspect entities reportedly traded up to 56,459.87 quintals of rice over a two-month span despite holding legitimate Food Corporation of India purchase records for merely 5,000 quintals. Consequently, the deputy director in Mandya issued show-cause notices and an FIR was filed regarding the export operation.
The largest single seizure occurred at Sri Banashankari Agro Processing Private Limited in Lokur village within the Kagwad taluk of Belagavi district. Officials seized 4,22,800 kilograms of public distribution rice valued at Rs 98.67 lakh, impounded 19 trucks worth Rs 2.66 crore, and sealed the processing unit entirely. In a separate operation within the same district, teams intercepted three trucks carrying 71,800 kilograms of rice allegedly bound for Maharashtra, where the grain was slated for repackaging and open-market resale. Law enforcement registered cases at the Nipani Rural and Malamaruti police stations against drivers hailing from Latur, Satara, and Hubballi. Additionally, in Vijayapura city, the Jalanagar police impounded an abandoned truck carrying 35,392 kilograms of rice after the driver fled during the raid.
In response to administrative lapses, Food and Civil Supplies Commissioner B Poornima suspended Hukkeri taluk food inspector Praveen Sagar and shirastedar L B Dange pending departmental inquiries. The officials were penalized for allegedly releasing an impounded truck and its rice cargo without filing an FIR or alerting senior leadership after inspecting an illicit facility. Minister Arshad emphasized that enforcement measures will target negligent public servants alongside private smugglers and corporate entities, vowing that strict legal action will persist until public distribution grain theft is completely eliminated across the state.