The Bureau of Investigation of Economic Offences (BIEO) of the Assam Police has formally registered a case on irregularities committed by a number of cooperative societies in distribution of PDS items and formal investigation into the matter is on. Police sources said that even Government officials might find themselves in trouble after the completion of the investigation of the case. Police sources said that after allegations of irregularities in distribution of PDS items came to light, the Government initially directed the Joint Director of Food and Civil Supplies to investigate into the matter but as he faced resistance, the BIEO was handed over the responsibility of probing into the irregularities. Sources said that after taking over the case, the BIEO carried out the preliminary investigations and after finding large-scale irregularities, a FIR has been lodged and formal investigations are now on. Police said that during the preliminary investigations, large-scale irregularities were found in five cooperative societies- Kaziranga Cooperative Society of Bokakhat, Dakhim Morongoni cooperative society, Pub Sarupathar cooperative society, Uttar Sarupathar cooperative society and Nambar Cooperative society. Sources revealed that these cooperative societies used to lift PDS items from the godowns of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and sold out about half the items in the open market instead of distributing the same to the beneficiaries. Sources said that about 40 percent of the rice allotted under the Antodyaya scheme, which was to be sold to the beneficiaries at the rate of Rs three per kilogram was sold at the rate of Rs 12 per kilogram in the open market and even the amount sold to the beneficiaries were not given at the Government price. Sources said that the same was the case in the allotment of BPL rice, sugar etc and almost the entire quantity of ata was sold in the open market. Interestingly, the cooperative societies even replaced the family identity cards issued by the Government with their own cards, which is highly illegal, sources pointed out. Police pointed out that the concerned Government officials also failed to play their part in checking the irregularities. The allotments are made by the respective Deputy Commissioners and sub-divisional officers, while, the officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department should also monitor the distribution of PDS items, while, the Cooperation Department has to keep a close watch on the activities of the cooperative societies. But the failure of the officials concerned to keep a close watch resulted in such large scale irregularities and the poor people were deprived of their dues. Sources also said that the district and sub divisional level vigilance committees should also monitor the PDS system but that was not done. It may be mentioned here that even legislators are members of the district level monitoring committees.