BALASORE: The local police have drawn flak from various quarters after the storage agents and transporters allegedly involved in PDS wheat smuggling, obtained anticipatory bail from the High Court.
Police, however, claimed that the accused took advantage of the lacunae in the Essential Commodities Act.
“They gave the impression to the court that under the Act, police cannot investigate. Such cases can only be investigated by the agencies empowered by the State Government,” said Sub-Divisional Police Officer K C Parida.
He added that as it is a cognisable offence police are authorised to investigate.
Seven out of eight accused in the case were granted anticipatory bail in the case that was registered with Industrial Area police on July 23. Four trucks loaded with 80 tonnes of PDS wheat were seized near Remuna Golai while being smuggled.
Meanwhile, the Joint Commissioner of Commercial Tax L Sahu today clarified that Assistant Commercial Tax Officer (ACTO) of Ambiliatha Bijay Kumar Rout was suspended and not Jaleswar ACTO Purnendu Dasmohapatra for his alleged involvement in the scam.