The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Uttar Pradesh has apprehended two former fair-price shop dealers who had been absconding for a long period in connection with a foodgrain embezzlement case dating back two decades in the Jaunpur district.
Arrest Details
The accused, identified as Mohammad Ahmad and Lal Bahadur Maurya, were taken into custody on Thursday by the EOW's Varanasi unit. This operation was part of a special statewide drive aimed at tracing wanted economic offenders. Both individuals were arrested from their respective residences in Jaunpur, produced before a court, and subsequently sent to judicial custody.
Background of the Case
The case pertains to alleged irregularities that occurred during the years 2004-05 under the Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) in the Machhlishahr block of Jaunpur. Investigators have revealed that foodgrain intended for laborers engaged in rural development works was misappropriated.
According to the probe, the two ration dealers, in collusion with project officials, utilized forged muster rolls to falsely indicate the distribution of grain to fictitious workers, thereby depriving genuine beneficiaries of their entitled supplies.
Financial Loss
The EOW's investigation uncovered that 89,869 kilograms of rice, valued at approximately Rs 6.29 lakh, were diverted and sold in the open market. This fraudulent activity resulted in a significant financial loss to the state exchequer.
Legal Proceedings
A total of 11 accused were named in the case, which was registered in 2019 under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.
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