The Food Corporation of India (FCI) on Monday rejected media reports alleging diversion of FCI rice worth Rs 1,160 crore for ethanol production in Madhya Pradesh, calling them "factually incorrect" and "completely baseless."
In a clarification, FCI said the investigation pertains to the alleged diversion of 490 bags of rice (242.5 quintals) supplied under the Ethanol Blending Programme, with an estimated value of about Rs 5.63 lakh, and not the entire quantity of rice supplied to distilleries.