Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Aug 10: A team led by the local tahsildar, Prasanna Kumar, arrested three persons and recovered 268 bags of wheat, on Monday August 9. The truck used to transport the bags was also confiscated.

The arrested have been identified as Vinayak Shenoy from Mangalore, his truck driver and cleaner. 130 quintals of wheat valued at about Rs 2.5 lac was found in the truck. The truck was actually meant for being taken to Bhatkal for public distribution there, from the Food Corporation of India’s godown in Perampally here. After learning that the wheat was being diverted to Mangalore, the tahsildar informed the Kaup policemen, who intercepted the truck near Marigudi, Kaup on Monday evening.

Vinayak Shenoy reportedly owns a mill in Mangalore. The tahsildar has expressed suspicion that government officials were hand in glove with the diversion. He said he would write to Uttara Kannada deputy commissioner to hold a detailed inquiry into the episode. Food inspector, Srinivas Bannantaya, village accountant, Jagadish, and policemen of Kaup were involved with the raid. A complaint was registered in Kaup police station in this connection.