Mysuru: N.R. Police, acting on a tip off, have arrested the driver of a goods vehicle on charges of transporting Public Distribution System (PDS) rice bags illegally and have seized 24 bags of PDS rice being transported to Mandya.

The arrested driver has been identified as Mohan.

On Feb.25, N.R. Sub-Inspector Mohan on receiving information that 24 bags of rice meant for public distribution was being transported illegally to Mandya, alerted the officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department.

SI Mohan and Food Inspector R.H. Chandraiah intercepted the Eicher goods vehicle (KL-08 AB-2458) near the Toll Gate on Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway and on inspecting the vehicle they found 24 bags (50 kgs each) of rice.

When enquired, driver Mohan failed to produce any documents and said that the rice bags were loaded by one Khudrath from Bandipalya to be transported to Mukthar and Shakeel in Mandya.

When the Food and Civil Supplies Department officials inspected the bags, those rice bags were similar to that of PDS rice bags following which the officials seized all the 24 rice bags and sent samples of rice for testing.

N.R. Police, who have registered a case, have arrested the driver and are investigating.