A bold CBI intervention has shattered a bribery ring at FCI’s Chandausi facility in Sambhal, UP, with two officials arrested while grabbing illicit payments. Triggered by a formal complaint from a private rice supplier, the mid-week action lays bare vulnerabilities in India’s grain storage backbone.
Having supplied 16 stacks to Babrala depot, the firm faced extortion: Rs 50,000 upfront for clearances and Rs 15,000 per pending stack. The manager partnered seamlessly in the racket, investigators confirmed, preying on businesses vital to public welfare.
The trap sprung perfectly, ensnaring them with Rs 30,000 in hand—earmarked for stack endorsements and smooth sailing ahead. Follow-up searches at their domains recovered key files and artifacts, fortifying the prosecution’s groundwork.
Recurring FCI corruption—ranging from quality fiddles to stack shortcuts for bribes—mirrors infamous cases like Punjab truck syndicates and multi-state arrests. CBI vows exhaustive scrutiny, with potential accomplices in the crosshairs via raids and grillings.
Now in judicial lockup, the pair confronts serious charges, as this episode galvanizes anti-graft drives. It spotlights the urgent need for reforms to safeguard food distribution from predatory insiders.