New Delhi/UNI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches over 50 locations across the country in a massive operation against an alleged nexus of channelized corruption in FCI and others, the Central probe agency statement said on Wednesday.

The DGM (Quality Control/Personnel), RO, Chandigarh and a proprietor of Kharar (Punjab) were arrested in an alleged bribery case, the statement stated.

Both the accused were produced in the court of special judge in Chandigarh and were remanded for five days of police custody.

A massive exercise was conducted under the name ‘Operation Kanak’ to gather actionable inputs and identify the accused.

"During the last six months regarding alleged corrupt practices adopted by FCI officials, private rice millers and grain merchants by way of paying alleged undue gratification to certain officials of FCI for getting undue favours. based on the various inputs," the statement read.

A case was registered against 74 accused including serving 34 and retired officials of FCI, 17 private people and other entities.

It was alleged that a huge amount of bribe was paid to FCI officials for extending favours to the private nexus operators.

It was further alleged that private rice millers and grain merchants were paying bribes to FCI officials for getting favours in accommodating procurement of low-quality food grains, malpractices in day-to-day operations in the unloading of food grains, and managing enquiries against various malpractices.

The allegations stated that the officials in conspiracy with rice millers cover up the shortages in stocks and accept low-quality food grains which were transported to other parts of the country.

The rice millers in turn allegedly pay a huge amount of bribe to the officials of FCI as part of channelized corruption, the statement stated.