Sullia: The Sullia police have arrested Basavaraju (55) on Dec.25 Wednesday for the crime of selling ‘Akshara Dasoha’ rice meant for mid-day meals normally given to school children in Sullia and other areas of DK districts, but diverted to shops and restaurants for selfish gains by the Lorry-driver employed by a merchant of Bellare near Puttur for the last 10 years or so.

Basavaraju who was caught red-handed while he was unloading the rice meant for mid-day meals, to a restaurant by Radhakrishna Parivarakana, president of Aletti Gram Panchayat, on local complaints by the people who found rice quantities delivered to schools in shortage. The GP leader in turn, informed the Block Development Officer (BDO), who alerted the police in the matter and held the Lorry driver in detention till the police took charge of him.

The Sullia police, who came to the spot where Basavaraju was held by the GP leader took charge and arrested the Lorry driver and registered a case against him for misuse of rice given as food to children in Sullia schools and are conducting further investigation in the wrong usage of Dasoha food materials.