The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh Police to probe the role of public servants in alleged siphoning off of foodgrains meant for public distribution system.
The court directed that the probe should be conducted by a police officer not below the rank of the Circle Officer with assistance of officials of the District Supply Office and crime branch.
It said that in case Aadhaar identification process is interfered with illegally at the instance of public servants, they should be brought to book.
A bench of Justice Ajai Lamba and Justice Sanjay Harkauli passed the order on a writ petition moved by a fair price shop dealer Chandra Kishore Pandey.
The petitioner has challenged an FIR registered against him accusing that he was involved in interfering with the Aadhaar identification process, whereby ration meant for the poor cardholders was siphoned off.
The FIR was registered with Mill area police station in Rae Bareli.
In his defense, the petitioner pleaded that Aadhaar data is fed in the office of district supply officer and he has no role in it. It also pleaded that interference with Aadhaar cannot be made without involvement of government officials, but they are being shielded and he being a mere dealer, is being made a "scapegoat".
Considering the overall circumstances, the court directed the Superintendent of Police, Rae Bareli, to supervise the probe and file his affidavit.
It further directed the investigating agency not to arrest the petitioner unless incriminating evidence was found against him.
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