Telangana officials seize rice and report missing paddy in separate raids

Authorities in Telangana have uncovered significant discrepancies involving government-supplied grain in two separate incidents.

In Rangareddy district, vigilance enforcement officials seized 150 quintals of Public Distribution System (PDS) rice during a raid at Raghavendra Rice Mill in Manchala. Officials allege the mill was polishing ration rice, packing it under 20 different branded labels, and selling it in the open market. The facility was reportedly operating without required licenses, GST registration, or tax compliance. An investigation into the management is ongoing.

In a separate matter, the Civil Supplies department has filed a police complaint against Sreeja Rice Mill in Kothagudem, alleging the misappropriation of government paddy worth Rs 6.91 crore. According to District Civil Supplies Manager S Trinath Babu, more than 1,750 metric tonnes of paddy are missing from the mill’s stocks. The mill had an agreement with the Telangana State Civil Supplies Corporation to perform custom milling and return specific quantities of rice to the government. A case has been registered against the mill’s managing partners under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Essential Commodities Act.