In a first, the state government has invoked stringent provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act against five persons from Nashik for allegedly being part of "ration mafia" that is involved in the pilferage of foodgrains meant for public distribution.
The move is aimed at weeding out the widespread corruption in public distribution system, an official said here today.
"This is for the first time that we have applied MCOCA against ration mafia. Typically, underworld elements, terrorists, slum-lords and bootleggers are booked under MCOCA apart from others," the official said.
According to the official, the accused were chargesheeted in six cases earlier and recently found involved in misappropriation of food grains in Sinnar taluka of Nashik district, where 280 sacks of rice from government godowns were sold directly to rice mills.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Girish Bapat had earlier warned of a stringent action against those who tamper with the PDS mechanism.
The accused were booked by Wadivarhe police in Igatpuri taluka on Monday, said Incharge of Wadivarhe police station Manohar Patil.
They are identified as Sampat Namdeo Ghorpade (50), Vishwas Namdeo Ghorpade (46), Arun Namdeo Ghorpade (44), Magan Ratan Pawar (43) and Ramesh Somnath Patankar (45)--all residents of Nashik.
The case of theft of a truck carrying PDS grain from a government godown was filed against them by local police in March, Patil said, adding the accused were allegedly involved in pilferage of grains from state-run godowns.
According to Nashik (Rural) SP Sanjay Mohite, the accused were also booked under the Essential Commodities Act.
