CBI books FCI, NERAMAC officials over alleged diversion of subsidised rice meant for Delhi's poor

CBI registers FIR in rice allocation case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a First Information Report (FIR) alleging irregularities in the allocation of subsidised rice by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to the North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC), with the grain meant for poor labourers diverted to traders for profit.

The agency has named senior officials of FCI and NERAMAC, along with unknown public servants and others, in the FIR, according to reports by Hindustan Times, India Today, and Times Now.

The CBI has alleged a series of irregularities, including allocation in violation of policy, pressure on officials, diversion of rice to traders, and preparation of purportedly false records to show distribution to the public. These actions are said to have caused losses of over ₹28 crore to the FCI.

The case was registered acting on a report submitted by the Department of Food and Public Distribution, as per Hindustan Times. The FIR alleges that FCI Delhi allocated about 62,000 metric tons of rice to NERAMAC between April 13 and May 15 under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) 2025-26.

Alleged policy violation and allocation process

According to the FIR, as reported by Hindustan Times and Times Now, the additional general manager of NERAMAC, Guwahati, wrote a letter dated January 7 to the "Minister (Food & Civil Supply), Government of NCT Delhi" requesting allocation of 31,000 metric tons of rice per week under the category "Sale of Rice without participation in e-auction" under the OMSS.

The stated objective, according to the FIR, was "to ensure availability of rice at affordable rates to the general public, daily wage earners, the labour class, migrant workers residing in Delhi, and persons not covered under PDS due to non-availability of ration cards."

The CBI alleged that NERAMAC was not eligible to receive rice at a concessional rate without an e-auction under the 2025-26 policy, as only state governments and corporations of state governments were eligible for such allocation, reported Hindustan Times.

The rice was supplied to NERAMAC at ₹23,200 per metric ton, while the prevailing reserve price was ₹26,900, according to Hindustan Times and Times Now.

MoUs with private entities and alleged diversion

Instead of distributing the rice to the intended beneficiaries, the inquiry alleges, NERAMAC entered into memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with three private entities and subsequently facilitated the lifting of rice by traders, reported Hindustan Times and Times Now.

The CBI said that the NERAMAC managing director, through three separate MoUs dated March 26, had empanelled three entities as channel partners to distribute agricultural products to consumers and non-governmental organisations such as private retailers, wholesalers, and NGOs.

The FIR alleged that "the stated purpose mentioned in these MoUs was different from that mentioned in the proposals sent by NERAMAC on January 7 to the Govt. of NCT, New Delhi." It further alleged that "the officials of NERAMAC falsely mentioned in the said MoUs that NERAMAC was authorised to procure and distribute rice under the OMSS policy, though it was not authorised by FCI."

The inquiry also alleged that FCI Delhi officials processed the allocation with "undue haste" despite the apparent policy violation, and that fabricated distribution records and backdated appointment letters were maintained to show that the rice had been distributed through retail outlets to the intended beneficiaries, as per Hindustan Times.

The document alleges a criminal conspiracy involving FCI and NERAMAC officials and private traders, saying the alleged acts caused wrongful loss to FCI and corresponding wrongful gain to the accused, reported Hindustan Times.