Srinagar, Mar 7: The Special Investigation Team of police probing the multi-crore rupees sugar scam continued raids across Jammu city on Monday. The bail applications of five persons, allegedly involved in selling sugar meant for public distribution in open market in league with Food Corporation of India and Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution department officials, were rejected by a court here. The FCI and CAPD have instituted parallel inquiries to probe the matter, besides suspending six employees.
 Reliable sources told Greater Kashmir that SIT headed by SP, Srinagar South, Sujeet Kumar conducted raids across the winter capital to nab the two main accused persons.
 “Several raids were conducted on the residences of the duo in Satwari and Trikuta Nagar, but they have fled along with their families to evade arrest,” they said.
 Meanwhile, court today rejected the bail applications of three accused and sent them to judicial remand. Besides this, anticipatory bail of two persons wanted in the case was also turned down by the court.
 Meanwhile, both departments have suspended their six employees who were arrested by police over past two weeks for their alleged involvement in the scam.
 Talking to Greater Kashmir, general manger FCI (J&K), RC Meena said that they have instituted an inquiry in the matter.
 “We have put three employees under suspension and ordered a probe under assistant general manager,” he said.
 Meanwhile, CAPD department said that they have constituted a 5-member team to look into the matter.
 “I have constituted a team comprising deputy director supplies, assistant director Budgam, assistant director stores, assistant accounts and representative of FCI to look into the matter,” Director CAPD, Abdul Waheed Tak said adding that they have also put their three employees under suspension.
 More than 10 persons including CAPD and FCI employees have been arrested by police over past few weeks in connection with the case. The statements of seven persons were also recorded under section 164-A CrPC and eight truckloads of sugar have been seized by the SIT so far.
 The issue surfaced when a Kashmir-based FCI authorised Transport Company- responsible for the movement of food grains and sugar from FCI godown rail head Jammu to FCI depots in Srinagar, Lethpora and Kupwara- sensed fraud in transportation of the essential commodity last month. Subsequently an FIR number 31/2011 under 3/7 of the Essential Commodities Act u/s 420, 406, 409, 418, 471 and 120 B of Ranbir Penal Code was registered in police station Sadder.

Strike continues:
 Meanwhile, FCI employees have decided to continue their strike for three more days against the management. The employees said: “We don’t support those who are guilty. The guilty should be punished. Our agitation is only against the management policies.”
 They said the FCI in Kashmir is facing deficiency of staff and despite “our requests to the management to provide us with adequate staff, our pleas have fallen on deaf ears.”
 They said the management has issued a circular containing several instructions to be implemented by the staff. “But we cannot implement those instructions in absence of adequate staff,” they said.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 7 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 7 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 8 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST