Panipat, April 10
The District Food and Supplies Controller (DFSC), Dharamvir Singh Goyat, was arrested by the Panipat police today for his alleged involvement in the missing foodgrain scam. He along with District Food and Supplies Officer (DFSO) Anita Kharb was suspended on Tuesday in the case.

Panipat Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar told The Tribune that Mr Goyat was arrested as he had been found guilty during investigation of the case. However, he did not say whether the DFSO might also be arrested in the case. He merely said all depended on the further investigation of the case.

The SP said no separate FIR had been filed against the DFSC. He was arrested under the same FIR registered on November 26 last year under Sections 420, 120-B, 166 and 167 of the IPC against the three officials of the Food and Supplies Department, he said, adding that his name would be added in the FIR.

DSP (City) Shiv Dayal, investigating the case, arrested the DFSC this evening. He said several revelations had been made by the two other officials of the department arrested on Monday, but he refused to divulge the information.

Assistant Food and Supplies Officer (AFSO) Bhoop Singh and Inspector of Food and Supplies Department Ashok Bajaj were arrested in the scam on Monday. However, another accused Inspector, Ajit Singh, was still absconding. These three officers of the department were suspended last year.

Mr Bhoop Singh and Mr Bajaj were now in judicial custody after they were remanded in police custody for five days.

Taking cognisance of a report published in The Tribune on April 3, which highlighted that the department was sitting over an report on missing foodgrain worth Rs 2 crore, the Chief Minister’s office, acting promptly, sought details of the matter and directed the officials concerned to act promptly in this matter.

The scam involved replacing of foodgrain in 4,000-odd gunny bags with husk in Panipat, that was discovered following the receipt of an anonymous letter last year.

Prepared by its own officials led by Additional Director, Food and Supplies, Mr A.R. Godara, the report had indicted the top officials of the district, recommending strict disciplinary action against Mr Goyat and Ms Kharb, at the departmental level and registration of police cases against the two and disposal of the remaining stock. However, the department had chosen to stay mum on the issue and had almost shelved the report.

A total of 20,000 quintals of wheat had been replaced by husk in gunny bags while the grain had been sold in the open market. The matter came to light in September last year after an anonymous complaint reached the head office in the city. On investigation, it was found that the bags meant to hold the foodgrain had nothing but husk in them. The foodgrain scam was reportedly going on since 2002.

Later, the Deputy Director, Rohtak, was assigned the task of conducting a thorough inquiry. However, he failed to submit his report despite repeated directions from the head office and was pending till date.