Lucknow: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Uttar Pradesh arrested two long-absconding former fair-price shop dealers in connection with a two-decade-old foodgrain embezzlement case in Jaunpur district.The accused, Mohammad Ahmad and Lal Bahadur Maurya, were arrested on Thursday by the EOW’s Varanasi unit during a special statewide drive to trace wanted economic offenders. Both were apprehended from their residences in Jaunpur, produced before a court and later sent to jail.The case relates to alleged irregularities during 2004-05 under the Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) in Machhlishahr block. Investigators said foodgrain meant for labourers engaged in rural works was siphoned off.According to the probe, the two ration dealers, in connivance with project officials, used forged muster rolls to show the distribution of grain to fictitious workers while depriving genuine beneficiaries.The EOW found that 89,869 kg of rice, worth around Rs 6.29 lakh, was diverted and sold in the open market, causing a loss to the state exchequer.A total of 11 accused were named in the case, which was registered in 2019 under multiple sections of the IPC, including criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy.
