CBI Court Sentences 30 in Punjab Rice Scam, Including FCI Officials
A special CBI court in Mohali sentences 30 individuals, including FCI officials, for their roles in a 2004-2005 rice procurement scam.
Mohali, November 14 (Daily Kiran) : A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Mohali has sentenced 30 individuals to prison terms ranging from one to three years for their involvement in the Punjab rice procurement scam from 2004 to 2005. The convicted include 14 officials from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and 16 private rice mill owners.
According to a CBI official, the special court found the accused guilty of criminal conspiracy and fraud under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The FCI officials were also convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The court imposed sentences of one to three years of rigorous imprisonment along with fines on the guilty parties. This case revolves around a criminal conspiracy between FCI officials and private rice mill owners that occurred during the Kharif season of 2004-2005. It was revealed that substandard rice was accepted as ‘Grade A’ at FCI centers located in Malerkotla, Sunam, and Tapa in Sangrur district. This led to wrongful payments to the rice mill owners and caused significant financial losses to the corporation.
Irregularities were uncovered during a joint surprise inspection by the CBI in September 2005. Laboratory tests confirmed that the rice shipments did not meet the established quality standards. Consequently, the CBI registered a case on January 7, 2006.
