A rice miller in Mancherial district has been slapped with the Preventive Detention (PD) Act for allegedly diverting custom-milled rice, causing a loss of ₹15.14 crore to the state exchequer.

Key Takeaways

  • PD Act invoked against Gampa Santosh Kumar, managing partner of Ramalakshman Industries Rice Mill.
  • Alleged diversion of Custom-Milled Rice (CMR) caused a ₹15.14 crore loss.
  • Total shortage of 4,452 metric tonnes of rice identified across multiple seasons.
  • Accused moved from Luxettipet sub-jail to Charlapalli Central Jail, Hyderabad.

In a major crackdown on food grain irregularities, the police have invoked the Preventive Detention (PD) Act against a prominent rice miller in the Dandepalli mandal of Mancherial district. The accused, Gampa Santosh Kumar, managing partner of Ramalakshman Industries Rice Mill, is accused of repeatedly diverting custom-milled rice (CMR) for personal gain.

According to official reports, the systematic diversion of rice during the years 2025 and 2026 has resulted in a massive financial blow to the state exchequer, estimated at approximately ₹15.14 crore. Two separate criminal cases have already been registered against him at the Dandepalli and Hajipur police stations.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that large-scale diversion of CMR undermines the integrity of the Public Distribution System (PDS). When millers siphon off government-allocated grain, it directly impacts the availability of subsidized food for the underprivileged and creates a massive deficit in state resources.

The invocation of the PD Act marks a shift toward aggressive legal strategies to combat high-value economic crimes involving essential commodities.

Investigation details reveal that a total of 4,452 metric tonnes of rice from the 2022-23 and 2024-25 rabi seasons remain unaccounted for. Following the detention order, Santosh was moved from the Luxettipet sub-jail to the high-security Charlapalli Central Jail in Hyderabad.

Historical Background

Custom Milling is a process where the government provides paddy to millers, who are then legally obligated to return the processed rice (CMR) to the state warehouses. Historically, this sector has faced challenges with 'leakages' where rice is diverted to the black market instead of being returned to the government silos.

Did You Know?: The Preventive Detention Act is a powerful tool used by authorities to detain individuals suspected of committing serious crimes to prevent future offenses.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is CMR in the context of rice milling?
CMR stands for Custom-Milled Rice, which is the rice produced by millers using paddy supplied by the government.

2. What does it mean when the PD Act is invoked?
It means the individual is being detained preventively to prevent them from committing further crimes against public order or the economy.