New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) The CBI registered a corruption case against three officials of Food Corporation of India and five others over alleged irregularities in the sale of rice from Delhi region to North Eastern Regional Agriculture Marketing Corporation Ltd (NERAMAC), Guwahati, an official said on Tuesday.
The wrongdoings allegedly caused a loss of about Rs 28.87 crore to FCI, said the FIR.
The probe agency filed the case under penal provisions for cheating, criminal conspiracy and relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act against the government employees and officials of rice millers and agro-product companies, the CBI official said in a statement.
Those named as accused in the alleged irregular sale of rice to the NERAMAC are: Kunhiraman Padmini Asha, the then General Manager, FCI, Delhi Region; Brahm Prakash, the then Assistant General Manager (Sales), FCI; and Amarendra Vikram, the then Manager (Sales), FCI, Delhi Region.
Others named in the FIR registered by the CBI on August 27 include Bhaskar Barua, the then Managing Director, NERAMAC, Guwahati; Anjal Kumar Dutta, the then Additional General Manager, NERAMAC, Guwahati and Dilip Saha, the then Deputy Manager (Agri-Business), NERAMAC.
The private companies and their officials named in the FIR include Rajesh Bajaj, Director of Utapalakshi Agro Products Private Limited and Dibesh Commercials Private Limited, Guwahati, and Pankaj Saraf, partner of Super Grains, Kolkata, the CBI said.
A probe committee was formed following a complaint filed by the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs to look into the allotment of rice to NERAMAC by FCI, Delhi Region, under the category “Sale of Rice to State Government/Corporations of State Governments” under the Open Market Sale Scheme in violation of policy dated July 10, 2025.
It was alleged in the said report that FCI, Delhi Region, allotted a total quantity of 62,000MT of rice to NERAMAC, out of which 50,645MT (approx.) rice was lifted by NERAMAC at a concessional rate of 23,200 per MT under OMSS(D) in April 2026.
It was alleged that the prevailing reserve price of rice was Rs 28,900 per MT (Rs 2,890 per quintal). As per clause B(i)5 and B(vii) of OMSS(D) 2025-26 Policy, NERAMAC, being a Govt of India-owned enterprise, was not eligible for allocation of rice without e-auction. Only State Governments and Corporations of State Governments were eligible for allocation of rice without e-auction.
It was alleged that the payment towards allocation of rice was routed through various private entities which were either millers or wholesale dealers of rice. There was no record to show that the rice was distributed for the stated purpose.
It was alleged that had the quantity lifted by NERAMAC at concessional price been sold in the auction at a reserve price of Rs 28,900 per MT, then FCI would have realised an additional amount of Rs 28.87 crore.
The CBI FIR said the commission and omission on the part of the accused “prima facie disclose commission of cognizable offences punishable under section 61(2) read with 318(4) of BNS 2023 and section 7 of the PC Act 1988. Therefore, a Regular Case is registered.”
The previous approvals under section 17 A of the PC Act, 1988 have been accorded by the Competent Authorities in respect of Kunhiraman Padmini Asha, Brahm Prakash, Amarendra Vikram, Bhaskar Barua, Anjal Kumar Dutta and Dilip Saha, said the CBI FIR.
--IANS
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