Defaulting J’suguda miller sent to jail

The owner of the Bajrangbli Rice Mill based at Pandaripathar, Jharsuguda, has been sent to jail for his involvement in a multi-crore custom milling scam.

He had filed a bail application in the Orissa High Court last month. The HC directed him to file the same in a lower court. Now, he has again filed a bail petition in the HC after the lower court rejected the application on June 26.

Civil Supplies Department sources said that Bajrangbali Rice Mill of Jharsuguda had procured 79,388.67 quintal paddy from different pacts in 2016-17 for custom milling, costing around Rs 11.67 crore. In exchange, the miller has to deposit 53,984.30 quintal rice to the Supply Department by September 30. But, the miller has deposited only 19,409.49 quintal rice. The balance 34,574.81 quintal rice has not been deposited with the department till date.

On the other hand, the bank guarantee of around Rs 1.5 crore submitted by him was later found to be false and fabricated.

As directed by the district Collector, the Supplies Officer had lodged FIR in Jharsuguda against the owner for swindling the Government of around Rs 8.2 crore on forged documents. Thereafter, the owner was absconding from his place to avoid arrest by the police.

Meanwhile, the then District Supplies Officer PDM Khosla along with another Inspector and Cashier were suspended by the department. After criminal case was booked against miller owner Dillip Agarwal, he approached the Orissa High Court for bail, which directed him to surrender before the lower court.

On last June 26, Agarwal surrendered before the court of Jharsuguda SDJM, but his bail application was rejected and he was sent to Jharsugada Sub- jail for judicial custody same day. Now, suspicion arises as to how the officers of the Supply Department were excluded in the FIR.