Cracking a whip on hoarders ahead of festival season, three persons have been arrested and 266 tonnes of foodgrains seized after police raided a godown at Bhiwandi.
Police have arrested three persons, including manager of the godown, along with the foodgrain, value of which is estimated at Rs. 63.60 lakh.
The raid on the godown, located in Krishna Compound in Dapoda area of the powerloom town, was conducted by crime branch officials on Sunday.
“Police team seized around 266 tonnes of food grains, including rice and wheat from the godown. This stock was diverted from fair price shops in Thane and Mumbai to the godown, where it was being repackaged into 50-kg gunny bags and then sold in black market,” said senior police inspector Kishore Pasalkar.
The trio are identified as Srinivas Mergu (35), the manager, Indrasen Gaud (38) and Firoz Ahmed Mustaq Ahmed Ansari (32) – both drivers.
They are booked under section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of IPC and Food Security Act.
Police said the owner of the godown, Raju Agrwal is at large.
Police have also registered a case against some fair price shop owners from Thane and Mumbai in this regard.
