70% of the quantity of Daal and oil seized from hoarders returned to them by Maharashtra Goverment

It is common knowledge now that during the skyrocketing of the tur daal prices the state government in Maharashtra launched massive raids against the hoarders and in the campaign seized almost stocks of Daal and oil worth Rs 539.50 crores. A total of 5592 raids were conducted at the time. But it has now been revealed vide an RTI query filed by RTI activist Anil Galgali that the government acted Magnanimous by returning 70% of the stocks seized to the very same hoarders. RTI activist Anil Galgali had sought information from the state government regarding the stocks of Daal and oil seized from the hoarders. He sought the quantity, value, quantity of stock returned, balance quantity in possession, and cases filed. Anil Galgali had to file a first appeal to the Food, civil supplies and consumer protection dept after it came to be understood that the government was trying to evade reply. In the hearing conducted on the appeal, Shri Supe, Dy Secretary of the dept provided the following information. Total of 5592 raids were conducted in all the 7 divisions, in which the daal, oil and oil seeds were seized in huge quantity totalling 1,23,028.389 metric tons, out of which 85,547.781 metric tons was returned to the hoarders and 37,480.608 metric tons was left with the govt. During the raids conducted in the overall maharashtra state the maximum stock seized was from the Mumbai - Thane division. Stock seized was 59,731.884 metric tons, whereas 56,574.846 metric tons was returned to the hoarders. At present only 3,157.038 metric tons is in Stock. In Nagpur division out of the 7,255.520 metric tons seized 4,939.250 is in Stock, and 2,316.270 metric tons was returned. In Konkan division out of the 52,747.260 metric tons seized, 23,362.940 we returned, leaving 29,384.320 metric tons as stock. Inspite of huge seizures in the Aurangabad, amravati, Pune and nasik divisions, efforts wasted as total 100% stocks returned back to the dealers. A total of 1,860.000 metric tons was seized from amravati, 1,110.470 metric tons seized from aurangabad, 144.989 metric tons was seized from Pune and 181.666 metric tons was seized from nasik, but the complete 100% metarials seized was returned back to the hoarders. Anil Galgali has expressed his suspicion on the Complete activities of the Govt in returning the 70% of the seized stock to the hoarders. He demanded that the government investigate and publish the actual facts and true report of the situation.The manner in which the raids were largely publicised, similarly the govt acted very swiftly in returning back the seized quantities raises suspicion and too many unanswered questions, which should be explained, add Galgali