Summary:
PATNA: The special investigation team (SIT) of crime investigation department (CID) on Friday started investigating the paddy scam in the state. SIT has been formed on the Patna high court directive.The seven-member SIT led by ADG (CID) Vinay Kumar has to complete the investigation within three months. The Supreme Court on February 28 this year passed an order that all the paddy scam cases should be investigated within three months and trial should be completed in the next six months.Five special courts would be set up in Patna, Gaya, Chhapra, Darbhanga and Purnia for the trial of paddy scam cases. Altogether 1202 FIRs had been lodged across the state. The SIT has also decided to form five special teams in the five cities and towns.The scam surfaced in 2013-2014 after the millowners, instead of supplying rice to government godowns, sold it in the open market, resulting in the loss of at least Rs2,000 crore to the state exchequer..