Former Khanapur MLA Ajmeera Rekha Naik faces legal action after civil supplies officials discovered significant discrepancies in government-allocated paddy stocks at her rice mill in Nirmal district.
Investigation Uncovers Major Discrepancies at Sattenapalli Rice Mill
Law enforcement authorities have registered a case against former Khanapur Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Ajmeera Rekha Naik following allegations of extensive irregularities in government paddy accounts. The action stems from targeted inspections conducted by Vigilance and Enforcement officials at industrial facilities owned by the former legislator in Nirmal district.
The investigation centered on ARS Industries and ARS Rice Mill, both situated in Sattenapalli village within Khanapur mandal. Officials conducted a comprehensive audit of the premises on August 18, cross-referencing physical inventory against official allocations provided by state authorities over multiple agricultural seasons.
Discrepancies Span Multiple Rabi Seasons
During the audit, inspecting officers identified a massive shortfall in government-allocated grain intended for processing. The missing inventory totals 9,639.96 metric tons of paddy, spanning the 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25 Rabi seasons. Based on the prevailing Minimum Support Price (MSP), officials calculated the monetary value of the uncollected and unaccounted grain at approximately ₹40.96 crore.
Beyond the raw paddy shortfalls, enforcement personnel noted severe backlogs in the delivery of Custom Milling Rice (CMR). Under the established public distribution framework, rice mills receive government paddy with the explicit contractual obligation to process and return specific quantities of milled rice to the state pool. The inspection revealed that the facility had accumulated significant deficits in fulfilling these mandatory obligations.
Formal Legal Action Initiated Following Official Complaint
Following the preliminary findings of the audit team, Civil Supplies District Manager (DM) Sudhakar filed a formal complaint detailing the structural discrepancies and unfulfilled quotas. Based on this official report, Khanapur police registered a criminal case against Ajmeera Rekha Naik in her capacity as the owner of ARS Industries and ARS Rice Mill.
The legal action gained widespread public attention on Wednesday when copies of the First Information Report (FIR) began circulating on social media platforms. The document outlined the specific scope of the missing stock and cited statutory provisions regarding the management of state-owned agricultural commodities.
Department Officials Confirm Case Registration
When queried regarding the viral document, local police personnel at Khanapur directed inquiries toward the Civil Supplies Department. Civil Supplies District Manager Sudhakar subsequently confirmed the official registration of the case, verifying that all details listed within the circulated FIR copy accurately represent the ongoing legal proceedings.
Sudhakar noted that further procedural details regarding the ongoing process remain under the purview of higher administrative authorities within the department.
The handling of the case has drawn commentary from local observers regarding communication practices surrounding high-profile investigations. Observers noted a contrast between the public briefings typically organized for routine cases involving private citizens and the reduced public disclosures provided when prominent political figures face scrutiny.
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