Fresh Arrest in Kanchanpur Food Grain Scam Rekindles Questions Over Alleged Multi-Crore PDS Irregularities

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, July 24, 2026

A fresh arrest in connection with the alleged food grain misappropriation case at the Anandabazar Food Godown in Kanchanpur has once again brought the spotlight on suspected irregularities in Tripura's Public Distribution System (PDS) and renewed demands for a wider investigation into the Food Department.

According to reports, police on Thursday arrested the principal accused, Islampur resident Ghulam Mallik, from his residence under Anandabazar Police Station in North Tripura district. He was later produced before the court. The arrest comes nearly a month after the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Kanchanpur, lodged a complaint alleging that food grains worth crores of rupees had been illegally diverted from the Anandabazar Food Godown.

Reports suggest that the accused had earlier obtained anticipatory bail. However, after the court reportedly cancelled that protection, police proceeded with his arrest.

The case has also raised questions over the pace and direction of the investigation. Local reports claim that despite allegations involving large-scale diversion of government food grains, the investigation was initially registered under relatively less serious provisions, prompting criticism that stronger legal sections relating to criminal breach of trust involving public property were not invoked at the outset.

Observers have also questioned whether the investigation has adequately examined the possible role of officials responsible for maintaining stock records, supervision and distribution of food grains.

The latest developments have intensified public demands for a high-level, independent inquiry into food grain stocks across all government food godowns in Tripura, not just the Anandabazar facility.

It is being alleged that illegal diversion of government food grains may not be confined to Kanchanpur alone and that similar irregularities could have occurred at other food storage facilities. There are also allegations that a few officials of the Food Department may have been involved in the alleged scam. These allegations remain unverified and no official findings have yet established departmental involvement.

Given the seriousness of the allegations, many are demanding a comprehensive audit of stock registers, transportation records, distribution records and physical verification of food grain stocks at food godowns across the state.

The alleged scam has also sparked debate over administrative accountability within the Food Department. Concerns have been raised regarding how such large quantities of government food grains could allegedly be diverted without detection if stock monitoring and internal audit mechanisms were functioning effectively.

There are also reports circulating that Food Department Director Sumit Lodh, who was recently promoted to the IAS cadre, is seeking a transfer from the post due to what are described as difficult and uncompromising circumstances within the department.

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