PD Act Invoked Against AP Native for PDS Rice Black Marketing, Sent to Chanchalguda

Khammam police have invoked the Preventive Detention (PD) Act against a man from Andhra Pradesh for persistent involvement in the illegal diversion and black marketing of Public Distribution System (PDS) rice. Following the order, the accused was transferred and lodged at the Chenchalguda Central Jail in Hyderabad.

The accused has been identified as Khaja Rama Rao, also known as Jayanthi Rama Rao, a native of Verulapadu in the NTR district of Andhra Pradesh. According to authorities, Rama Rao failed to cease his illegal operations despite multiple criminal cases being registered against him previously.

In an official media release, Khammam Police Commissioner Sunil Dutt stated that Rama Rao operated a network across Khammam district to acquire subsidized rice. He allegedly purchased PDS rice directly from ration shop dealers through appointed local agents stationed at various locations, subsequently diverting the stock into the open black market for illicit profit.

Police records show that Rama Rao has a history of repeated offenses related to the illegal trade. Five separate cases were registered against him at Kalluru, Thallada, Errupalem, and Chandrugonda police stations across the erstwhile Khammam district between April 28 and May 26.

In addition to those cases, Rama Rao was previously booked in two cases in 2024 at the Thallada and Kalluru police stations under various sections of the Essential Commodities Act.

Law enforcement officials noted that notices under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) had earlier been served to the accused. However, because he continued to engage in black-marketing activities undeterred by previous legal actions, police invoked the PD Act to prevent further offenses and ordered his detention at the Chenchalguda facility.