Ahmedabad: A truck carrying govt-supplied wheat was seized by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the city crime branch in the Naroda area early on Friday, exposing suspected diversion of public distribution grain.Police constable Mihir Banesingh spotted a parked truck near the urban health centre in Ganpati Mandir Lane in Naroda during routine patrolling. He and two other constables approached the truck driver, Jesa Damor, who said he was transporting wheat.On further questioning, and after reviewing photographs of the truck and sacks, food and civil supplies department officers were called to the spot. Assistant food control officer A M Jadav and zonal officer S N Chaudhary reached the location. In the presence of police and independent witnesses, they verified that the 197 sacks on board were wheat meant for public distribution.The truck was being operated by Satnam Enterprise, and the driver reportedly he was working under the instruction of one Babu Mansuri, police sources said. The consignment was not supported by valid govt documents. Officials estimated the wheat weighed 11,820kg and was valued at approximately Rs 3.3 lakh. The truck used in the transportation, valued around Rs 10 lakh, was also seized.Four grain samples were collected by officials for further testing. No transit pass, official public distribution system (PDS) documents or invoices from the govt warehouse were found in the driver’s possession.An FIR was registered under Sections 316(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for breach of trust and cheating, along with Sections 3 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act. SOG police have begun an investigation into Satnam Enterprise and others involved in the suspected illegal diversion of public food grains. Officials stated that further questioning of the driver and company records would reveal whether more people are linked to the racket.
