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- Civil Supplies dept conducts surprise raids on illegal rice traders in Hyderabad, RR
Civil Supplies department cracks down on illegal rice trade; registers 11 FIRs
In Short
The inspections aimed to prevent consumer exploitation, curb illegal rice trade, and ensure essential commodities remain available at official government-fixed prices.
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Hyderabad: The Civil Supplies Department, in coordination with the Enforcement Task Force and the Legal Metrology Department, conducted a sweeping crackdown on illegal rice trading, artificial scarcity, and price manipulation across Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts. As part of the enforcement drive, joint teams executed surprise raids at retail and wholesale establishments from October 29 to 31. The operations resulted in the registration of 11 FIRs and legal action against 18 trading entities.
The inspections aimed to prevent consumer exploitation, curb illegal rice trade, and ensure essential commodities remain available at official government-fixed prices. During the raids, officials detected severe irregularities, including weight manipulation where traders affixed labels indicating 26 kilograms on bags containing only 25 kilograms. Inspecting officers also discovered instances where traders pasted inflated price stickers over original Maximum Retail Prices printed by manufacturers. Further checks revealed several commercial establishments operating without mandatory licences, including Trade, GST, Labour, and FSSAI approvals. Officials also uncovered cases involving the illegal diversion and hoarding of Public Distribution System rice.
To guarantee effective legal action, enforcement teams documented all violations using videography and photography. Consequently, 11 FIRs were registered at Saroornagar, Jeedimetla, and Alwal police stations. The accused traders face prosecution under the Essential Commodities Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, with specific offences carrying up to seven years imprisonment.
