Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Crime Branch has said that it is on the lookout for two accused from Ponda, who are allegedly the prime accused of the entire smuggling racket of wheat and rice from Civil Supplies godown.
The Crime Branch has registered three FIRs in the matter wherein rice and wheat were being smuggled and taken to Karnataka in trucks.
Sachin Naik Borkar from Ponda is the main accused in the racket, who allegedly owns a private warehouse, and the other accused is Virendra Mardolkar.
The Crime Branch has also arrested Hazrat Ali Sayed from Tiswadi, Vinay Kumar Guddemani and Prakash, both from Karnataka, Tausif Mulla and Ram Kumar, while two trucks and three pickup vehicles have also been seized during the raid.
According to the police, the arrested truck driver has confirmed having ferried the grains from the Civil Supplies warehouse to the private warehouse at Curti.
Yesterday, the Crime Branch and the Directorate of Civil Supplies raided the State-run godowns and arrested several for allegedly trying to siphon off grains meant for public distribution to sell in Karnataka.
This came at a time when the department was reeling under criticism over damaged toor dal accounting for over 400 tonnes.
