Srinagar: Following crime branch (CB) raids on FCI stores and initiation of probe, CAPD minister Zulfkar Ali has admitted that the substandard supply of rice was being received by the department.
“Yes, it is true that our one of the depot in North Kashmir has received two trucks of substandard rice. We have communicated it to FCI authorities and both the trucks have been sent back to FCI,” he told over phone.
CB had conducted raids on FCI stores in the valley and initiated preliminary inquiry following reports of alleged supply of substandard rice to consumers.
Zulfkar said though he was not aware of CB raids on FCI stores, the government would fully cooperate with it during investigation. “Let CB inquire the matter. If they need any information from the government, we are ready to share it,” the minister said.
He said he had directed all the concerned officials of the department not to accept any substandard supply of rice. “We will not accept the supply of substandard ration of FCI. I have directed the concerned officials to check all the supply which the state is receiving from FCI,” he said.
The minister, ruling out the involvement of any CAPD official, said if any officer was found doing anything wrong, he would be put to the task. “I assure you that whosoever is found involved in it, he will be booked under the law,” he said.
CB IGP Muneer Ahmad Khan said they had initiated preliminary investigation and conducted raids on FCI stores at Letpora, Pulwama, Shali store, Srinagar, and other stores in north Kashmir.
He said it was done after media reports alleged supply of substandard rice to consumers. He said the rice samples picked up during raids were being forwarded for analysis.
He said that they had reports that high quality FCI rice was being sold in open market while the same was replaced in the godowns by substandard ration.
