PONDA: The prime accused Sachin Naik Borkar who is absconding in yesterday’s Crime Branch raid for foodgrains smuggling was also arrested in 2012 by Ponda Police for illegal hoarding of rice at his residence-cum-private godown at Curti on November 2, 2012.
The raid was conducted by the then Ponda Police team led by DySP Dinaraj Govekar and Pl Sagar Ekoskar. Police had found around 340 bags loaded onto a truck and some 60 bags in the godown. Sachin Naik and two residents of Yellapur, Karnataka including the owner and driver of the truck were arrested.
This seized rice was originally allotted to some self-help groups for the midday meal under the public distribution system (PDS) at subsidised rates.
Police had the role to investigate how the subsidised rice reached the godown.
Truckloads of rice bags were seized, sealed, and brought to the police station. The truck thereafter was parked in front of Ponda Police Station for a long time.
The Ponda Police informed that in 2012, the raid was conducted by them, while further investigation was conducted by Crime Branch. It was the Crime Branch Police that filed the charge sheet against Sachin Naik in Court. However, Crime Branch sources said the Court discharged him of offences as it could not be proved.
