Forum seeks CBI probe into alleged rice scam

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 16, 2021

A citizen forum under the banner of the ‘Ka Sur U Paidbah Ka Bri U Hynniew Trep’ has demanded for a CBI inquiry into the alleged seizure of huge quantity of rice meant for the state of Meghalaya by the Assam police.

In a memorandum to Union Minister for Social Justice, Child and Women Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot on Wednesday, the secretary of the forum Egenstar Kurkalang said, “We urge upon the Government of India through your esteemed office…(to kindly) take necessary action by instituting CBI enquiry into this instance allegation scam and stern legal proceeding should be initiated against those who involved therein.”

He said on June 13, Assam Police of Boko Police Station, Kamrup Rural District busted and seized around one lakh packets of rice of 50 Kg per bag from private godown in Chhaygoan Industrial Development Centre, Chhatabari, Kamrup Rural District.

The godown belongs to Deepak Agarwal owner of one Company known as Maruti Quality Products Private Limited. The police also detained 13 trucks involved in this rice transportation, Kurkalang said.

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma claimed that there was no scam involved in the incident and that the rice seized was not part of the NFSA and COVID relief provided by the government of India.