A large quantity of foodgrains stored in the warehouse of the government-owned Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Corporation (KFCSC) in Sagar city is missing.
The total worth of the missing foodgrains that include 162 quintal rice and 14 quintal wheat is estimated to be at ₹4.4 lakh. The store here was meant for allotment to fair price shops under the public distribution system and for the midday meals scheme in government and private-aided schools.
Acting on a tip off, a team of senior officials from the Department of Food and Civil Supplies and KFCSC raided the warehouse recently. During verification of stock it was found that there was mismatch between the entries made at the stock register and the actual physical stock at the warehouse.
Shivaprakash N.D., District Manager of the Corporation said it is suspected that the missing stock was shifted to private godowns in an illegal manner and later sold in the open market.
Based on the direction of the Deputy Commissioner, a detailed report on the incident has been sent to the chairman of the corporation. In the report, the suspension of H.S. Nagaraj, manager of the warehouse in Sagar, from the service has been recommended under the Karnataka Civil Service Rules for his failure to maintain the stock in a proper manner.
Mr. Shivaprakash said a complaint has been lodged with Sagar police station too in this regard. Based on the complaint, the police have booked cases under The Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and under section 420 (Cheating) of Indian Penal Code against Mr. Nagaraj.
This is the second major incident of foodgrain going missing from a KFCSC godown of that has come into light in the district in recent times. It may be mentioned here that the missing foodgrain worth ₹45 lakh in the warehouse of KFCSC in Shikaripur was unearthed in April.
