Telangana CID arrests 14 rice millers over alleged Sanna Rakam rice substitution

Compiled from reports by NewsMeter, ThePrint and Telangana Today. See the original articles linked below.

The Crime Investigation Department (CID) of Telangana has registered three criminal cases and arrested 14 rice millers over alleged irregularities in the supply of fine-variety Sanna Rakam rice to the Food Corporation of India (FCI), according to reports published on 25 October 2026.

The allegation

ThePrint, republishing a Press Trust of India report, said the cases concern supplies during the 2025-26 Kharif season. Police allege that some millers sold the fine-variety paddy allotted to them on the open market and delivered cheaper coarse rice in its place. Telangana Today wrote that part of the substitute rice reportedly came from outside the state. The coarse variety is called Doddu Rakam in the reports.

NewsMeter reported that the matter involves the Custom Milled Rice agreement for that season, and said Telangana procured 71.86 lakh metric tonnes of paddy in the period.

How the cases began

According to ThePrint, the cases followed a complaint filed on 24 October by the General Manager (Procurement) of the Telangana Civil Supplies Corporation. It said inspections by enforcement and task force teams were followed by laboratory tests, which found that the samples did not match the variety specified in the allotments.

Figures reported

Telangana Today and ThePrint said 16 mills in the Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Mulugu districts allegedly delivered about 3,386 metric tonnes of coarse rice against fine-variety allotments. Both reported an estimated bonus-related loss of about ₹1.69 crore on that rice.

NewsMeter and ThePrint reported that a further quantity of roughly 45,415 metric tonnes of paddy had been allocated to these mills for conversion into rice. ThePrint said this carried a potential bonus-related impact of around ₹242 crore. NewsMeter noted that the ₹242 crore figure represents a potential financial implication and not a confirmed loss. ThePrint added that the CID said the process was halted, and that this prevented additional losses. NewsMeter attributed the halt to stoppage orders from Civil Supplies authorities.

Offences and scope of the inquiry

NewsMeter listed the offences under investigation as criminal breach of trust, wrongful gain and conspiracy to cause financial loss to the government, together with violations of the milling agreement. ThePrint described the alleged offences in similar terms.

Telangana Today reported that the investigation will look at the alleged diversion itself, the roles played by millers and officials, a possible conspiracy, and the actual financial loss to the government. NewsMeter and ThePrint said investigators are also examining how allotments were processed and whether government officials or other people were involved.

The reports describe the case as ongoing. NewsMeter, ThePrint and Telangana Today each gave the number of arrests as 14, across 16 mills.

Sources

This article was compiled with AI assistance from the reports listed above and reviewed by GMA before publishing.