PDS scam: Role of dealers, officials under scanner

Nikhil Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 20

A day after the inter-state crime wing of Delhi arrested five persons for running an organised syndicate involved in diverting PDS kerosene for commercial use after procuring it from various states (including Punjab), the role of several Jalandhar-based PDS dealers is under the scanner. During the interrogation of gang members, it has come to fore that these dealers had been providing subsidised kerosene oil, meant for residents, to unauthorised syndicates.

Apart from the role of PDS dealers, the role of officials of the District Food and Civil Supplies Controller (DFSC) is also under the scanner of the Delhi crime branch for allegedly conniving with PDS dealers.

A senior official of the crime branch said the police had also identified the accused, who had been procuring kerosene from several PDS dealers of Jalandhar. The role of the Jalandhar man came to fore during the interrogation of five accused nabbed in Delhi.

KPS Malhotra, ACP, Inter-State Cell, Delhi, said a Jalandhar man had a tie-up with several PDS dealers, who had been selling kerosene to him at lucrative rates after procuring these at subsidised rates from the Punjab Government. “We have identified this man and soon, our team will conduct a raid to nab him.”

The ACP said as per the interrogation of accused, DFSC officials might be aware of the diversion of kerosene supplies, adding that if required, they might question these officials.