The Centre has ordered an enquiry into alleged missing of grains worth over Rs32 billion from Food Corporation of India godowns.
Food Minister Sharad Yadav asked the Financial Advisor to the ministry, Manoranjan, to conduct the enquiry following detection of a gap in actual and recorded availability of stocks to the tune of 5 million tonnes, official sources said.
They said the advisor had been given 15 days to conduct the enquiry.
Ministry officials were unwilling to state if it was a scam. "We do not rule out a major scam. Quantities are missing for what was being shown as available in records but we cannot jump to conclusions either."
The issue came to light when records of the FCI's Punjab chapter were verified and matched with figures available with the ministry, the sources said, adding that the Senior Regional
Manager of the FCI in the state, V K Singh, had been asked to proceed on leave.