New Delhi: Enforcement Directorate (ED) revealed a significant fraud in the Bharat Rice Scheme, which is meant to give low-income families affordable rice. Over ₹3.14 crore in cash and gold were seized during raids in Haryana and Punjab on May 23. The agency has been probing several rice mill companies suspected of cheating by diverting subsidized rice that was supposed to help people experiencing poverty.
The Jalandhar unit of the ED investigated many homes and businesses in Haryana and Punjab. It also investigated money laundering related to the Bharat Rice Scheme. Authorities recovered ₹2.02 crore in cash, gold totaling about ₹1.12 crore, and various electronics, documents, and other items during the operation.
The investigation is based on an FIR filed by the Punjab Police under the Indian Penal Code. The FIR lists Gopal Goyal, owner of Shiv Shakti Rice Mill and Jai Jinendra Rice Mill, Harish Kumar Bansal, and others as fraud suspects.
Through the Bharat Rice Scheme, rice millers get rice at subsidized rates to process, package, and offer as 5—or 10-kg packets. Yet, the accused sold rice outside the scheme or send it illegally on the open market. Because of this, the investigators treat profits made by the accused as proceeds of crime with the ED.
The ED’s action is significant in combating corruption and assisting those needing government support. The agency is still investigating all elements of the scam.
In a separate action on May 23, the ED searched Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Mumbai related to money laundering by the Jaypee Group. Officials targeted raids at JIL and JAL, along with their top officers and promoters, as part of the investigation.
Officials conducted searches at the JAL offices and Gaursons India Pvt. Ltd., Gulshan Homz Pvt. Ltd., and Mahagun Real Estate Pvt. Ltd. FIRs lodged by the police set out that JAL, JIL, and their leaders are accused of major fraud and planning it together by the Delhi and Uttar Pradesh Police’s Economic Offences Wing. The allegations accuse the individuals behind them of soliciting investments from thousands of homebuyers and investors for residential properties they never received.