The CBI has registered an FIR into alleged irregularities by the Food Corporation of India in allocating subsidised rice
meant for poor labourers to the North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC), where it was diverted to traders for a profit.
The CBI FIR accessed by Times Now has named then senior officials of the FCI and NERAMAC, unknown public servants and others.
CBI in its FIR has alleged a series of irregularities, including:
Allocation in violation of policy
Pressure on officials
Diversion of rice to traders and
Preparation of purportedly false records to show distribution to the public
Resulting in losses of over Rs 28 crore to the FCI.
The FIR has alleged that then additional general manager, NERAMAC, Guwahati, letter dated January 07, 2026, had requested the “Minister (Food & Civil Supply), Government of NCT Delhi” for allocation of 31,000 MT rice per week under the category “Sale of Rice without participation in e-auction” under OMSS(D) 2025-26.
“The objective was to ensure availability of rice at affordable rates to the general public, daily wage earners, the labour class, migrant workers residing in Delhi, and persons not covered under PDS due to non-availability of Ration Cards,” FIR said.
Instead, the inquiry alleges, NERAMAC entered into memorandums of understanding with three private entities and subsequently facilitated the lifting of rice by traders.
The agency said the Managing Director, NERAMAC, through three separate MoUs dated March 26, 2026, had empanelled three entities as channel partners to distribute agricultural products to consumers and non-governmental organisations such as private retailers, wholesalers, NGOs, etc.
“The stated purpose mentioned in these MoUs was different from that mentioned in the proposals sent by NERAMAC on January 7, 2026 to the Govt. of NCT, New Delhi. The officials of NERAMAC falsely mentioned in the said MoUs that NERAMAC was authorised to procure and distribute rice under the OMSS(D) Policy, though it was not authorised by FCI,” the FIR alleged.
Acting on a report submitted by the Department of Food and Public Distribution, the CBI registered a case alleging that FCI Delhi allocated about 62,000 metric tons of rice to NERAMAC between April 13 and May 15, 2026, under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic), or OMSS(D).
The anti-corruption probe agency has claimed that NERAMAC was not eligible to receive rice at a concessional rate without an e-auction under a 2025-26 policy.
“…NERAMAC, being a Government of India-owned enterprise, was not eligible for allocation of rice without e-auction. Only State Governments and Corporations of State Governments were eligible for allocation of rice without e-auction,” the FIR alleged.
The rice was supplied to NERAMAC at Rs 23,200 per metric ton, while the prevailing reserve price was Rs 26,900. The inquiry alleges that the concession resulted in a substantial loss to FCI of about Rs 28.49 crore, the FIR alleged.
The CBI in its FIR alleged that NERAMAC was used as an intermediary to obtain subsidised rice ostensibly for distribution among daily-wage earners, labourers, migrant workers and other eligible consumers in Delhi.
The ministry inquiry further alleges that FCI Delhi officials processed the allocation with “undue haste” despite the apparent policy violation. The private entities allegedly contacted traders who deposited Rs 23.25 per kilogram into NERAMAC’s bank account.
The entities earned commissions ranging from Rs 0.64 to Rs 2.50 per kg from traders to whom they further sold the rice. The traders allegedly collected rice from FCI depots and resold it to other traders for profits.
The inquiry also alleged that fabricated distribution records and backdated appointment letters were maintained to show that the rice had been distributed through retail outlets to the intended beneficiaries.
The document alleges a criminal conspiracy involving FCI and NERAMAC officials and private traders, saying the alleged acts caused wrongful loss to FCI and corresponding wrongful gain to the accused.
