A division bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf noted that the primary relief sought by petitioner and Jabalpur-based advocate Vinod Sisodia had been fulfilled. Since the state had initiated criminal action based on a joint probe panel’s findings, the court said no further directions were required.
According to the PIL, several officials allegedly reduced ration quantities allocated to economically weaker families during the height of the pandemic, a period when beneficiaries were in urgent need of additional support. Essential items including wheat, rice, salt, sugar, and kerosene—meant for distribution through the public system—were purportedly siphoned off and sold in the open market using officials’ personal IDs. Sisodia argued that despite repeated complaints, authorities failed to act, prompting judicial intervention.
During the hearing, Deputy Advocate General Vivek Sharma told the court that the state had constituted a joint investigation committee when the irregularities surfaced. The committee found prima facie evidence of corruption and recommended legal action. Based on its report, FIRs were lodged on September 4 against officials identified as responsible for the alleged diversion.
The bench recorded the government’s submission and closed the petition, while granting the petitioner liberty to approach the court again if any implicated individuals remained untouched by the inquiry.
Sisodia’s counsel Manish Verma maintained that the FIRs were filed only after the matter reached court. He also claimed the alleged diversion was not limited to Jabalpur but extended to at least 22 districts, suggesting a larger statewide scam involving losses running into crores. He indicated that further legal steps would follow.
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