TEAM HERALD
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PONDA: Crime Branch, which is investigating the alleged rice black-marketing racket, is yet to hand over the remaining rice bags from the godown to the Civil Supplies Department Ponda.
It may be recalled that after the case was transferred from Ponda Police to Crime branch, the investigating team on May 15 conducted the panchanama and handed 358 rice bags, each weighing 50 kilos each, from the seized truck to the Civil Supplies Department.
Sources at Civil Supplies Department Ponda informed that the rice bags from the truck were later sold through the fair price shops; however, it is yet get custody of the remaining rice bags from the godown. Ponda Civil Supplies Department on Tuesday wrote to the Directorate of Civil Supplies in this regard.
It may be recalled that in November last year, Ponda Police busted an alleged rice black-marketing racket at Curti-Ponda and arrested three persons. A truck was seized during the raid.
According to panchanama conducted by Ponda Police, there were 250 rice bags each weighing 50 kilos. However, it was reported that the number of rice bags increased to 358 when rice bags were handed over to the Civil Supplies Department, Ponda.
The police had also sealed the godown that contained about 277 rice bags. However, these rice bags have not been handed over to the Civil Supplies Department. Incidentally, two police personnel ~ one at night and one during the day are posted outside the godown.
Since the seized commodity is perishable in nature, the then investigating officer had written to the North Goa collector asking permission to dispose the seized rice.
Later, based on the directives from the North Goa Collector’s office, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) collected samples of the seized rice and were stated to be fit for consumption.
According to information, on April 22 Additional Collector North Goa P K Velip Kankar passed an order to dispose the rice. “Permission is granted to the sub divisional police officer Ponda to dispose off the seized rice at the controlled price with the assistance of Civil Supply Inspector, Ponda,” states the order.
Though it was not clear why there has been delay in handing over the remaining rice bags, an officer from the Crime Branch on condition of anonymity said the process is in progress and the rice bags from the godown will soon be handed over to the Civil Supplies Department, Ponda.
