Two workers of the rice mill were detained and a goods vehicle was impounded, officials said.
Following complaints from consumers that some ration shops claimed shortage of Re.1-rice, Collector C. Kamaraj formed a special team. Based on specific input, the officials led by District Supply Officer N. Murugiah, Tahsildars Muruganandam and Alexander, Food Cell Inspector Chakravarthi and team conducted a check at the mill in the wee hours. Preliminary inquiries suggested that the mill operator had allegedly conspired with some Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation staffers and planned to sell the paddy procured from the TNCSC godown in the open market. In return, the mill operator would procure Re.1 rice from ration shops and despatch it to the TNCSC godown, which would give an impression that the mill had converted paddy into rice. The allegation was that the mill operator, in connivance with some TNCSC officials, had not only planned to sell the high quality paddy in the open market, but also smuggle the Re.1 ration rice from the PDS outlets and send it to the TNCSC godown, a member part of the search operations said. The TNCSC officials said that they would get the paddy converted into rice from private rice mills and keep the rice stocks ready for movement to needy locations in southern districts.