Udupi: Kota police seized 160 quintals of rice, allegedly meant for distribution under the state govt’s Anna Bhagya scheme, while it was being transported without a permit at Manoor village in Brahmavar taluk on Tuesday.Acting on information received around 10am on Tuesday, Brahmavar food inspector Vasanth Kumar, Kota police sub-inspector Praveen Kumar and other personnel intercepted a truck near Mahalakshmi Hotel.According to the complaint, it was carrying 320 white polythene bags containing rice allegedly meant for free distribution under the scheme. The consignment, weighing 160 quintals and valued at around Rs 3.8 lakh, was allegedly being transported to a trading company in Kasaragod, Kerala, without a valid permit.Police said the rice had allegedly been loaded onto the truck by Nagaraj Naik, proprietor of a rice industry at Nadumaskeri in Kumta. The driver, K Narasimha, was allegedly transporting it on the instructions of truck owner Girish Naik. The rice and the truck, valued around Rs 3.5 lakh, were seized. The total value of the seized items is estimated at Rs 7.3 lakh.Based on a complaint filed by the food inspector, Kota police registered a case under Sections 3, 6 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955; Sections 3(2) and 3(3) of the Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2016 and Section 112 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Further investigation is under way.
