PDS LOOT: Manohar promises action against errant Perni family
Vijayawada:Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar said on Tuesday that the government has filed a criminal case against JS Godowns owned by Perni Jayasudha, wife of former minister and YSRC leader Perni Nani, citing “misappropriation” of PDS ration rice stored in the private godown.
Speaking to the media in Tenali on Tuesday, Manohar said a probe report revealed that 243 metric tonnes, consisting of 4,840 rice bags, had disappeared from the JS godown.
“The police, revenue and civil supplies departments will conduct a probe and punish those responsible for the embezzlement,” the minister said.
He said a three-member committee consisting of the RDO, civil supplies manager and an assistant controller from the legal metrology department has been formed to investigate the PDS irregularities.
Manohar said the JS godown wrote a letter on Nov 27, shortly after the state government's decision to implement the warehouse management system software plan. This software aims to gather details regarding the stock available at godowns, the stock to be stored, and the amount of paddy to be procured and shifted to godowns for the upcoming season.
“In the letter, the godown reported a shortage of around 3,000 rice bags due to technical issues with the weighbridge and offered to pay for the missing rice bags,” Nadendla said. He accused JS godown of attempting to destroy records by tampering with the stock register and weighbridges.
The minister stated that the JS godown was handed over to the civil supplies department in 2021. With a storage capacity of 5,000 metric tonnes, 243 metric tonnes of rice was allegedly misappropriated by the Perni family for their personal interests.
Although the JS godown has paid `2.23 crore for the missing rice bags, the government will enforce the rule of law and take appropriate action against the Perni family, he asserted.
