SRINAGAR: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch Kashmir has filed a charge sheet in a major rice diversion scam, alleging large-scale misappropriation of government food supplies by senior officials of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCSCA) Department. The charges were submitted before the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Sopore in connection with the disappearance of multiple truckloads of rice.
According to a statement, the charge sheet in FIR No. 07/2020, registered under Sections 409, 420 and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code, names three former FCSCA officers: Siraj-ud-Din Bhat, then TSO PEG Baramulla; Mohammad Hussain Bhat, then TSO/Storekeeper at Hygam Granary; and Mohammad Shafi Rather, also linked to Hygam Granary.
The case began after the Directorate of FCSCA reported suspected misappropriation of food grains from the Hygam and Baramulla (Centre D) granaries. Acting on the communication, the SSP Crime Branch ordered a Joint Surprise Check (JSC) to verify the dispatch and receipt records of rice consignments.
The JSC uncovered major discrepancies. Seven truckloads of rice shown as dispatched from PEG Baramulla—under the supervision of FCI officials and the TSO PEG Baramulla—were falsely recorded as received at Hygam Granary and distributed to sale centres in Wagoora, Nowpora, Kathigan Jathiar, Kalantra and Dandmoh. All the centres denied receiving the consignments, and official records supported their claims.
Further investigation found that challans had been fraudulently procured by Assistant Storekeeper Palhallan Pattan, Mohammad Shafi Rather, from Siraj-ud-Din Bhat, and subsequently processed through TSO Hygam, Mohammad Hussain Bhat.
The probe concluded that the accused officers, acting in criminal conspiracy with each other and with certain FCI Baramulla officials, diverted and misappropriated significant quantities of rice, causing substantial financial loss to the state exchequer.
Based on extensive oral and documentary evidence, the offences were found to be proven. The charge sheet has been filed before the competent court under Section 173 CrPC for further judicial proceedings.
