English
English
English
Siddharthnagar: Nearly 465 quintals of government foodgrain meant for poor and eligible beneficiaries allegedly went missing before reaching ration shops in Uttar Pradesh’s Siddharthnagar district, exposing serious gaps in the Public Distribution System (PDS) supply chain. The suspected diversion of wheat and rice has triggered questions over transportation monitoring, record verification and the effectiveness of checks designed to prevent corruption in the government ration network.
The case came to light in the Uska Bazar area after an inquiry by the District Supply Department found discrepancies between official dispatch records and the actual availability of ration supplies at fair price shops. Officials found that foodgrain released from government warehouses under the August 2026 allocation allegedly did not reach its intended destinations.
According to the preliminary investigation, 256.50 quintals of wheat and 208.50 quintals of rice were dispatched from government storage centres for distribution among ration card holders. The combined quantity of nearly 465 quintals of essential commodities was meant to be delivered to designated ration dealers, but verification revealed a mismatch between the recorded movement of stock and the ground situation.
The suspected diversion has been linked to PC Transport, the contractor responsible for carrying government foodgrain from storage centres to ration shops under the PDS system. Following the initial findings, an FIR has been registered at Uska Bazar police station against firm proprietor Premchand Jaiswal and company representative Rohit Yadav. The accused have been booked under Section 3/7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, which covers violations related to the supply, distribution, storage and illegal handling of essential commodities. The action was initiated after directions from the District Magistrate following the reported violation of government supply norms.
The Public Distribution System works through several stages, including government warehouses, transport agencies, fair price shops, stock registers, delivery documents and digital tracking systems. These mechanisms are designed to ensure that subsidised foodgrain reaches eligible beneficiaries without diversion. The disappearance of such a large quantity of wheat and rice has raised concerns over possible loopholes in supervision. Authorities are now examining whether the issue was limited to transportation-related discrepancies or if other individuals were involved in the alleged diversion.
The investigation team is expected to verify transport documents, dispatch records, stock registers, electronic supply data and statements of officials and ration dealers to establish the complete chain of events. The inquiry has also brought attention to complaints reportedly linked to foodgrain distribution involving the same transport agency.
Sources claimed that concerns related to supply operations during May and July 2026 had also surfaced, though officials are examining the details as part of the ongoing investigation. The probe may determine whether delayed inspections, administrative lapses or weaknesses in monitoring systems allowed the alleged irregularities to continue. If the involvement of government employees, officials or other individuals is established, further departmental and legal action may follow.
