Probe role of govt staff in PDS scam, HC orders police

LUCKNOW: The Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court on Monday directed state police to probe the role of public servants in the public distribution system (PDS) scam involving siphoning of foodgrain meant for PDS beneficiaries.
The court directed that the probe should be conducted by a police officer not below the rank of circle officer with assistance of officials from district supply office (DSO) and crime branch.It said that public servants should be brought to book in case they are found to have illegally interfered with the Aadhaar identification process.
Earlier, TOI had carried a series of news reports on PDS scam highlighting how PDS foodgrain was pilfered by manipulating the Aadhaar updation process and questioned the role of district supply office in the anomalies. A bench of Justice Ajai Lamba and Justice Sanjay Harkauli passed the order on a writ petition filed by a fair price shop dealer Chandra Kishore Pandey. The petitioner has challenged the FIR registered against him, accusing him of being involved in interfering with the Aadhaar identification process whereby ration meant for poor card holders was siphoned off. The FIR was registered at Mill area police station in Rae Bareli.
In his defence, the petitioner pleaded that Aadhaar data is fed in the office of district supply officer and he has no role in it. He also pleaded that interference in Aadhaar identification process cannot be done without the involvement of government officials, but they were being shielded and he, being a mere dealer, was being made a scapegoat.
Considering the overall circumstances, the court directed the Rae Bareli superintendent of police to supervise the probe and file an affidavit. It further directed the investigating agency not to arrest the petitioner unless incriminating evidence is found against him.