A special squad seized 800 quintals of illegally stored rice, meant for distribution under the Anna Bhagya scheme, from a private godown here on Friday evening.
The rice is worth Rs. 25 lakh, the authorities said.
The squad, led by Superintendent of Police Chandragupta, arrested three persons in connection with the incident. On a tip-off, the police team accompanied by officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department raided the godown in Patil Galli in Shahapur police station limits and seized rice stored in 1,600 bags of 50 kg each.
Police sub-inspector of the Shahapur station D.C. Lakkannavar told The Hindu that the rice was hoarded by one Ashok Hidaduggi, a resident of Ganeshpur locality.
He said as Hidaduggi had gone on a pilgrimage, three of his workers were arrested. He identified the arrested as Prabhakar Mahadev Bamne, Chandrakant Mahadev Bamne and Laxman Siddaram Modgi.
