The Thiruvananthapuram City police have stepped up their investigation into a ration card fraud case in which a gang allegedly manipulated the Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department’s online portal to unlawfully approve nearly 150 priority ration cards.
According to police officials, the racket is suspected to involve a ration outlet licensee who gained unauthorised access to the government website to process and approve applications in violation of rules.
The Vanchiyoor police had arrested Sahad Khan (32), who operates a ration outlet in Beemapally, in connection with the case nearly three weeks ago. He was released on bail on Sunday but continues to remain under close police surveillance.
Investigators believe the accused misused official credentials or exploited system vulnerabilities to approve priority ration cards for ineligible beneficiaries. Police are now examining digital records and transaction trails to identify other individuals involved in the racket and to determine the extent of the fraud.
Further action is expected as the investigation progresses, officials said.
