Rs. 1.34 crore worth rice seized

Kakinada, Apr 20 (UNI) The officials of Civil Supplies department today intercepted an auto clandestinely transporting 15 quintals of rice and seized the vehicle along with the stock near Nagamalli Thota junction in East Godavari district today.

The team, led by PD Prakash Rao, District Supply Officer on a tip-off conducted surprise check on Ms Dhana Lakshmi modern rice mill near by and found that the entire stock in the mill was meant for clandestine business.

'We have thoroughly scrutinised the records and found that being a trading mill, it was disposing off the rice stocks without obtaining permission from the authorities.

More over there'' was no evidence to show that the rice milled was levy - free rice, the official said.

Mr Rao said that they had seized the entire stock-12201 quintals of paddy, 300 quintals of rice under process, 120 quintals of rice and 250 quintals of broken rice. Rice mill clerk, Appala Swamy, who was on the scene present was taken into custody and the mill was seized, he added.

UNI XR/AP AM RK1833