CBI Court convicts 17 in Punjab FCI corruption cases, awards up to three years' jail
Babushahi Bureau
Mohali (Punjab), July 19, 2026: A Special CBI Court in Mohali has convicted 17 individuals, including nine officials of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and eight private rice millers, in two corruption and criminal conspiracy cases linked to the acceptance of substandard rice during the 2004–05 procurement season.
The court sentenced the convicted persons to rigorous imprisonment ranging from six months to three years and imposed fines between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000.
The cases involved alleged irregularities at the Muktsar and Nihal Singh Wala procurement centres, where FCI officials, in connivance with private rice millers, were accused of accepting poor-quality rice, causing financial loss to the public exchequer.
Among the FCI officials convicted were former Technical Assistant Hari Raj Arora, Assistant Manager (Quality Control) V.M. Mishra, former District Manager Rakesh Ranjan, and other officials, each receiving two years of rigorous imprisonment along with fines.
Private rice millers Amandeep of M/s Hargovind Rice Mills and Ravi Kumar of M/s Shivam Rice Mills were awarded the maximum sentence of three years' rigorous imprisonment. Other millers, including Ram Pal and Joginder Pal, were sentenced to two years in prison.
The court acquitted former Deputy Manager (Quality Control) Azad Singh and three private individuals due to lack of evidence.
Nihal Singh Wala Centre case
In the second case, former FCI officials Jasbir Singh, Amarjeet Singh Brar, Azad Singh, and Rakesh Ranjan were each sentenced to two years' rigorous imprisonment along with fines.
Among the private accused, Sanjeev Kumar, partner of M/s Mangla Agro Industries, received a three-year prison sentence, while three other rice mill partners were sentenced to two years each.
Proceedings against former Senior Regional Manager K. Siva Prasad had earlier been quashed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, while cases against several accused were abated following their deaths during the trial.
According to the prosecution, the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy to facilitate the acceptance of substandard rice during the procurement season, resulting in wrongful loss to the government.
CBI Public Prosecutor Anmol Narang said the Special Court of Baljinder Singh Sra, Special Judge, CBI, Punjab, convicted the accused under Sections 420 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, awarding rigorous imprisonment and monetary penalties.