361 Bags of Government Rice Worth ₹5.41 Lakh Stolen from Sakoli Warehouse in Bhandara; Police Launch Investigation

Sakoli, Bhandara, October 6, 2026: A major theft has been reported at a government grain warehouse in the Lakhandur Phata area of Sakoli taluka in Maharashtra's Bhandara district, where unidentified persons allegedly stole 361 bags of government rice valued at approximately ₹5,41,500. The incident reportedly took place between September 29 and October 3, 2026. It came to light when warehouse staff conducted a routine inspection and discovered a significant shortage in the stored rice stock. 361 Bags Found Missing During Stock Inspection According to the complaint, Deepak Nanaji Chaudhary, 47, who was responsible for inspecting and monitoring grain stocks at the government warehouse, noticed that several bags were missing during an inspection on the morning of October 3. A detailed physical count subsequently revealed that 361 bags of rice, each weighing approximately 50 kilograms, were missing. The total quantity of stolen rice was approximately 18,050 kilograms, with an estimated value of ₹5,41,500. Thieves Allegedly Removed Shutter Bolts During an inspection of the warehouse premises, investigators reportedly found that the unidentified suspects had removed the nuts and bolts fitted to a shutter at the rear of the building. The suspects allegedly used this opening to enter the warehouse and remove the stored rice without immediately attracting attention. The method used to access the building has raised questions about the security arrangements at the government storage facility. Police Register Case and Begin Investigation Following the discovery, the warehouse representative approached Sakoli Police Station and submitted a written complaint. Police registered a case against unidentified persons under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including Sections 331(3), 331(4), 334 and 305(e), as reported in the initial coverage. Police Sub-Inspector Kishor Mankar was assigned to investigate the case. Investigators are examining how the stolen rice was transported, where it may have been stored and whether other individuals were involved in the operation. Further Investigation Leads to Arrests In subsequent developments reported on October 7, police arrested 10 people in connection with the alleged theft. Investigators also seized a Mahindra Bolero pickup vehicle and recovered approximately 50 per cent of the stolen rice, according to contemporaneous local reports. The investigation was expanded to examine the suspected movement, purchase and storage of the stolen government stock. Police were also searching for the remaining rice and another vehicle allegedly connected to the incident. The subsequent arrests are part of the ongoing investigation; the accused have not been treated as guilty before the completion of legal proceedings. Questions Raised Over Government Warehouse Security The theft has drawn attention to security and stock-monitoring arrangements at the government warehouse. Government grain stocks are maintained for distribution through public food-supply programmes. Any unauthorised removal can affect the accountability and management of essential food supplies. The investigation is expected to establish how such a large quantity of rice was removed, identify the people allegedly involved and determine whether any procedural or security lapses occurred. Police are continuing their investigation into the case.