Three individuals were arrested in Tamil Nadu’s Tirupattur district near Vaniyambadi for attempting to smuggle approximately one tonne of Public Distribution System (PDS) rice. The arrests were made by a team from the Vaniyambadi Taluk Police, acting on a tip-off regarding illegal rice transportation.
The accused, identified as M. Munusamy, R. Venkatesan, and K. Kumar, were found transporting the PDS rice in a vehicle near the Palakottu check post. Investigations revealed the rice was illegally procured from ration shops using forged documents and intended for sale in neighbouring states, specifically Karnataka.
Police seized the one tonne of PDS rice, the vehicle used for transportation (a tempo traveller), and forged ration cards from the possession of the accused. The value of the seized rice is estimated to be around ₹30,000.
The accused confessed to purchasing the PDS rice from individuals in various villages within the Vaniyambadi taluk. They reportedly planned to sell the rice at a higher price in Karnataka, exploiting the price difference between the states.
Police are currently investigating the involvement of others in the smuggling operation, including those who provided the forged ration cards and facilitated the illegal procurement of rice from ration shops. Further inquiries are underway to identify the network involved in this PDS rice smuggling racket and to prevent similar incidents in the future. The arrested individuals have been remanded in judicial custody. This operation highlights ongoing efforts to curb PDS rice diversion and ensure food security for eligible beneficiaries.
