After Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s inspection and anger towards PDS rice smuggling in a big way at Kakinada Port, the authorities have finally moved against the illegal smuggling of ration rice and seized the Stella ship.
Earlier it was found illegal smuggling of ration rice being transported abroad in a huge ship, which was caught red-handed. During his inspection, Pawan Kalyan asked officials to seize that ship. Kakinada Collector Shanmohan responded and said that the Stella ship at the Port has been seized. He said that a multi-disciplinary committee has been formed with officials from five departments to investigate this issue.
The Collector said that a team has been formed with officials from Revenue, Police, Civil Supply, Port and Customs. He said that there is failure of the officials in the illegal smuggling of ration rice. The investigation will reveal how the rice was transported from the godowns to the ship.
Collector Shan Mohan said that an investigation has been launched into how the PDS rice came from the godown to the ship at Kakinada Port and who transported it. He said that the issue of whether the entire rice in the ship is PDS rice will be investigated.
He said that the committee will examine each load in the ship and inquire where the rice came from and they will determine whether the rice released with a bank guarantee is actually in that ship.
“The cargo ship Stella El Panama bound for West Africa was seized at the Kakinada Anchorage Port with 38,000 metric tons of rice. We have found that 640 metric tons of rice loaded on the ship was supplied through PDS. We will inspect the total 38,000 metric tons of rice loaded on the ship and determine which rice it is. This will be completed in three days”, said Collector Shan Mohan.
A large amount of rice is being transported abroad from Kakinada Port, allegedly influential political leaders were behind this mafia during the previous regime. Following a two-hour meeting with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu by Pawan Kalyan on Monday, the officials started acting fast in this case.