Pune, April 8: The Yavat police have conducted a raid at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee premises in Kedgaon, Maharashtra, seizing a significant quantity of grain intended for black market activities. The total value of the confiscated grain amounts to ₹10,69,856. Authorities have registered a case against one individual under the Essential Commodities Act.
The complaint was filed at the Yavat police station (Pune Rural District) by Supply Inspector Pankaj Gopal Gore, aged 34, a resident of Mhasobachi Wadi in Indapur tehsil. According to police reports, the accused, Sunil Vishwanath Nimbalkar, a Kedgaon resident, had illegally stored grain in a warehouse rented from the Agricultural Produce Market Committee.
Despite his wholesale trading license expiring in 2017-18, Nimbalkar continued to stock grain in the warehouse. During the raid, police seized 492 bags of wheat (each weighing between 45 to 50 kg), valued at approximately ₹8,85,600, and 144 bags of rice worth ₹2,84,256. In total, the seized grain is valued at ₹10,69,856.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the confiscated grain may belong to government-operated ration shops. The accused allegedly intended to sell it at inflated prices to familiar customers, thereby disrupting the public distribution system designed to provide essential rations to the community.
Police Sub-Inspector Wagaj is leading the ongoing investigation. The operation was conducted under the supervision of Police Inspector Bhore. Authorities are now working to determine how long the accused has been involved in this illegal storage and whether others are implicated.
Complaints regarding illegal grain storage in the warehouses of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee in the Kedgaon area have been reported previously. Police have warned local traders and warehouse owners that strict legal action will be taken against anyone found engaging in illegal grain storage or black market activities.
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