Aide of Akali leader booked for siphoning off paddy worth Rs7.45 cr

Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, June 27

The local police on Wednesday booked the close aide of a SAD leader in connection with the alleged misappropriation of 1.03 lakh bags of paddy — each containing 37.5 kg of the grain, worth Rs 7.45 crore.

The accused has been identified as Malkiat Singh, proprietor of Everest Rice Industry here. A case under Sections 406 and 420 of the IPC has been registered against the accused.

Though the district manager of Punsup had named an Akali leader in his complaint to the SSP, Faridkot, on May 31, giving him the “benefit of doubt” in the inquiry, the police registered a case only against Malkiat.

As per the FIR, Punsup had issued 2,67,908 bags of paddy for milling to Everest Rice Industry in October 2017. The millers were to deliver 67,327 quintals of rice to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) at 67 per cent turn out ratio against which they delivered only 39,562 quintals of rice till April 30.

On May 5, a team of senior officers of the Punsup from Moga and Faridkot districts, under the supervision of Ajitpal Saini, General Manager (Procurement), Punsup, had conducted a verification of the stock in the rice mill. The team found 1,03,452 bags of paddy missing.

“The proprietor of the rice mill, Malkiat Singh, had misappropriated the bags of paddy in connivance with Sukhveer Singh Samra, son of Harinderjit Singh Samra, who is a former chairman of the Faridkot Improvement Trust,” alleged Punsup in its complaint to the SSP.

Apprehending the “involvement” of Samra, the district manager, Punsup, alleged that Malkiat had got the release orders issued to get the delivery of paddy from Jalandhar and Kapurthala and had given the authority for lifting of the paddy in favour of Samra. 

“As Samra is also running a rice mill near the Everest Rice Mill, issuing the authority letter, dated October 25, 2017, to Samra for lifting of paddy makes it clear that both are hand in glove. The bags may be on the premises of Samra Industry or anywhere else, which must be in the knowledge of Malkiat and Samra,” alleged Punsup in its complaint.

However, on June 12, Yadwinder Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Faridkot, in his inquiry report, gave a clean chit to Malkiat and Samra. 

The DSP suggested that Punsup settle the case through negotiation and a conciliator.

However, in its complaint, the Punsup claimed that the rice was meant for a buffer stock of the Central Government and the FCI to maintain the price in the open market as well as for the public distribution system (PDS) in various states. 

By misappropriating the bags of paddy, the accused had deprived the state of rice and any type of compensation, penalty or damages would not be a substitute for the rice in the kitty of the state, it added. 

Samra, on his part, said that Punsup had named him in the case without any reason. 

Dr Nanak Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police, Faridkot, said the FIR was registered as per the prima facie evidence available.