Hyderabad, Oct. 27 -- The Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the Telangana Police has arrested 14 millers in connection with alleged irregularities in the supply of fine variety of rice to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) during the Kharif 2025-26 season, according to a statement released by the agency. The alleged fraud involves the diversion of paddy allotted to rice mills for producing the specified variety of rice and its substitution with cheaper coarse rice, resulting in suspected financial losses to the state government, which procured rice from farmers by paying a bonus of Rs.500 per quintal of fine rice. In the statement, CID said the probe was initiated following a complaint lodged by the general manager (procurement) of the Telangana Civil Supplies Corporation on Saturday. Meanwhile, the arrests were made on Sunday. Preliminary findings indicate that certain rice millers allegedly diverted Sanna Rakam (fine variety) paddy allotted to them to the open market and supplied cheaper rice, including rice allegedly procured from outside Telangana, in its place. Sanna Rakam refers to fine-variety rice and paddy cultivated extensively in Telangana. "The alleged malpractice came to light during inspections conducted by Enforcement and Task Force (ETF) teams, followed by laboratory analysis of rice samples. The laboratory tests reportedly found that the samples supplied in the cases examined did not conform to the Sanna Rakam variety specified in the allotments," the statement said. "The estimated loss arising from the bonus payable for the specified variety of rice in these deliveries is approximately Rs.1.69 crore," the statement added....