Islamabad food controller faces probe over alleged Rs38.44m embezzlement

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency and the anti-corruption police have opened an inquiry into a complaint against Islamabad District Food Controller Allah Bachayo over the alleged misappropriation of funds linked to confiscated flour worth Rs38.44 million, according to details reported on Tuesday.

The Deputy Director FIA and the SHO Anti-Corruption initiated the investigation and summoned the district food controller. The case concerns two heavy trucks belonging to a major flour mill that were seized in February this year, after which the flour was allegedly sold in the open market. Mill owner Abdul Samad Sethi later filed a complaint with the FIA Islamabad, alleging embezzlement.

Flour mill owners and the Flour Mills Association also staged protests over the matter. During the FIA inquiry, the complaint was found to be prima facie correct. In the presence of food department officials, FIA teams and representatives of the Flour Mills Association, officials recovered Rs23.784 million from the bank account of the district food controller.

A further Rs14.65 million has been demanded from the official. The recovery has triggered concern within the food department, where fears have reportedly emerged that more complaints of a similar nature could surface.